Dramatic scene in new HBO series last of us Has left many viewers wondering — could there be a global outbreak of a devastating fungal disease? Could mutated fungus turn us into…well, zombies?
As the CDC’s chief fungal disease specialist, I know that new and exotic fungal infections can threaten public health. It would not be surprising if new fungal species emerge and cause human disease that is challenging to treat. However, while Cordyceps fungus is turning people into zombies last of us makes for entertaining television, we don’t need to be worried about that happening in real life anytime soon.
Why ophiocardiceps unilateralthe fungus that inspired last of usScary so dramatically?
These “zombie ant” fungi only infect certain types of ants, causing strange behaviors including directionless “zombie” walking. Infected ants seek out the higher branches of dying plants, spreading the fungal spores over longer distances and infecting any healthy ants they come in contact with.
have no chance ophiocardiceps unilateral Turning humans into zombies. this type of parasitic behavior between insects and Cordyceps It has evolved over millions of years, and is a very distinctive species. It works in insects because their primitive neurological systems are easily manipulated by chemical signals released by the fungus. Mammals have complex brains and brains, so a successful leap to another species would likely take millions of years of selection.
Fungi are common in the environment. People breathe in or come into contact with fungal spores every day without getting sick. Fungal infection can happen to anyone. When we think of fungal infections, athlete’s foot or toenail fungus often comes to mind. But there are also fungal infections that can invade our organs and blood vessels and cause serious illness or death. These fungi are more likely to cause infections in people who have a weakened immune system and thus cannot fight off infections as well as healthy people.
Person-to-person spread of the disease-causing fungus is rare but can occasionally occur. The potential for fungi to produce specific neurological behavioral changes as a method of reproduction in any mammal, fish, bird, reptile, or amphibian species is unprecedented. However, there are several fungal groups that do it in insects.
Rare fungal infections are always a possibility in severely immunocompromised people, but there are no recorded infections in humans. Ophiocordyceps species. Because this fungus will not survive at human body temperature, infection is unlikely even in a severely immunocompromised host. So, you can stop your preparations for the zombie apocalypse caused by a fungus.
It is true that some true fungal diseases go undiagnosed, causing serious illness and even death. Raising awareness of fungal diseases is one of the most important ways we can improve early detection and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. An important clue when a sick person may have a fungal disease is that they are being treated with medicine (eg, an antibiotic) for another type of infection, but it does not heal.
So, while we don’t need to worry about fungal infections turning us into zombies, it’s important for all of us to “think fungus” when infection symptoms don’t improve with treatment. The sooner doctors can diagnose the disease correctly, the sooner people can be treated correctly.