An obscure fungus that targets the brain no longer stays so obscure. A CDC report indicates cases of Cladophialophora bantianaa black mold containing melanin, has increased sharply in recent years, and it doesn’t just affect people with weakened immune systems, according to Fox News. About half of known infections occur in otherwise healthy patients, and the mortality rate ranges from 60% to 70%, even with aggressive treatment. “Where people get it from and why it primarily goes to the brain ‘remains a bit of a mystery,'” according to Dr. Joshua Lieberman, who helped write the latest CDC report, per MedPage Today.
Data from a University of Washington laboratory shows that detections nearly quadrupled between 2023 and 2025, with cases identified in 21 states and Washington, D.C., and the highest numbers in California, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania. The fungus is thought to enter through inhalation or skin wounds and then travel to the brain, where it usually appears as a difficult-to-diagnose abscess. The CDC is pushing for national reporting of cases and urging doctors to consider fungal causes when evaluating patients’ brains.
Gn Health
