Dangerous fungus could spread to parts of US, researchers claim
FOX NewsMAY 10
Study: Deadly Fungi to Spread Globally as Climate Warms
Above: Microscopic image of Aspergillus flavus. Image copyright: BSIP/Contributor/UIG Via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This research is a wake-up call. Climate change isn't just melting ice caps — it's creating the perfect conditions for spreading deadly fungal diseases like aspergillosis; airborne, hard to detect, increasingly drug-resistant, and already killing hundreds of thousands each year. Though mortality rates are up to 40%, fungi still remain far less studied than viruses or parasites, and most doctors struggle to diagnose these infections.
Narrative B
While the risks of fungal diseases like aspergillosis are real, alarmist comparisons to COVID-19 ignore key uncertainties. The Manchester study is still under peer review, and experts stress that fungal behavior under climate change is poorly understood. Most healthy people aren't at risk and warming could even reduce fungal survival in some areas. Instead of panicking over worst-case scenarios, we need targeted research and better diagnostics to close knowledge gaps.