Global fungal disease deaths doubled in a decade: Study

The annual total of deaths from fungal disease worldwide has risen to 375 million double the previous estimate according to a global studyThe study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases also calculates an annual total at about 655 million acute cases using data from over 80 countriesThough fungal disease has multiple causes the updated mortality figures nevertheless dwarf deaths from other single pathogens killing six times more people than malaria and almost three times as many than tuberculosisPrevious estimates were imprecise as many fungal diseases exacerbate an existing disorder itself often severe such as leukaemia or AIDS argued Professor David Denning a professor of infectious disease at The University of ManchesterHowever according to the study of the deaths linked to fungal disease around 68 per cent or 255 million were likely to have been directly caused by itAround 12 million deaths 32 per cent had other underlying disease with fungal disease contributing About a third of 323 million chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD deaths worldwide are linked to infection with the fungus Aspergillus finds Professor DenningThough pulmonary tuberculosis was classified as the cause of death in 12 million people in 2019 as many as 340000 28 per cent of these could actually be fungal disease deaths Of the estimated 311594 leukaemia deaths globally in 2020 14000 45 per cent could be attributable to aspergillosis and some to other fungal infectionsLung and bronchus cancer annual deaths stand at 18 million with the new estimate indicating that aspergillosis is implicated in 49000 deaths 27 per cent of themCandida another type of fungal infection is a serious problem in intensive care complex surgical patients diabetes cancer and renal failure as well as premature babies The researchers estimate that about 157 million people suffer from Candida bloodstream infection or invasive candidiasis with 995000 deaths 636 per cent each yearThis work is the first global comprehensive annual incidence estimate of fungal disease yet many gaps and uncertainties remainrdquo Professor Denning saidOur prior estimates of annual mortality were 15 to 2 million yet we now find the probable number dying with or of a fungal infection is double this at about 375 millionrdquo he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever