Deadly Superbug Spreads Faster In NYC Than Anywhere Else In Nation, Experts Say

CITY HALL, NY — A superbug deemed a "catastrophic threat" to public health is more prevalent in New York City than anywhere else in the country, health experts said.

At least 38 cases of Candida auris, a deadly fungus, have been confirmed in the city's hospitals and other health care facilities since 2013, according to the state's health department. It's been deemed a "superbug" because some strains are resistant to drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The nation as a whole has only seen 61 cases, according to records kept up to April 13.

The health department cautioned that the city's high number might be blamed on extra vigilant testing.

"Our aggressive actions to expand surveillance and testing for Candida auris in health care facilities has likely contributed to the elevated incidence in New York, coupled with the high number of international travelers entering the state," a spokeswoman said.

Of the 39 cases reported throughout the state, all but one have been in New York City. According to the state's records, cases were reported at 15 hospitals throughout the city and one doctor's office. These 16 facilities reported between one and six cases to the New York health department, which did not provide a breakdown of how many cases were identified at each facility.

The bug, which the CDC called a "catastrophic threat," was first identified in Japan in 2009. It spreads contaminated equipment and patients hospitalized for long periods of time are particularly at risk.

According to the CDC, about 30 percent of patients with Candida auris in the U.S. have died.

Lead image via CDC.