CDC report: detections of deadly brain fungus C. bantiana up fourfold in US since 2023
A CDC-published report says detections of the rare brain-infecting mould Cladophialophora bantiana have risen about fourfold in the US in two years. The cause is unknown and there is no federal tracking of the infection.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The CDC has warned that detections of Cladophialophora bantiana, a rare mould that infects the brain, have risen about fourfold in the United States in roughly two years. New York PostR “Now, the CDC is sounding the alarm that cases of this infection have jumped four-fold in just two years.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “recorded a fourfold increase in detections from 2023 to 2025” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1The findings come from research by the University of Washington and the CDC, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Daily MirrorL “according to research by the University of Washington and the CDC”“The study, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Right · 1Between January 2009 and July 2026, researchers identified 48 confirmed cases and one probable case in the US, in 21 states and Washington DC; California had six, Florida and Texas five each, and Pennsylvania four. New York PostR “between January 2009 and July 2026, researchers identified 48 confirmed cases (and one probable case) of C. Bantiana infections in the US.”“C. Bantiana cases were found in 21 U.S. states and D.C., with the most in California (six cases), Florida (five), Texas (five), and Pennsylvania (four).” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Annual cases ranged from one to five between 2009 and 2023, then rose to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025, according to the New York Post's account of the CDC data. New York PostR “the number of cases ranged from one to five per year between 2009 to 2023, they rose to eight in 2024 — then jumped to 14 in 2025.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1At the University of Washington lab, the rate averaged 8.4 cases per 1,000 central nervous system specimens submitted for fungal analysis from 2017 to 2023, rising 210% to 26 per 1,000 by 2025; lead author Joshua Lieberman said at least one other fungal lab has also seen a rise. New York PostR “From 2017 to 2023, an average of 8.4 cases were detected per 1,000 CNS specimens submitted for fungal analysis at University of Washington. But by 2025, the number increased 210%, to 26 per 1,000.”“At least one other fungal lab has seen a rise in the deadly mold, lead author Joshua Lieberman told MedPage Today.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2The infection is fatal in 60% to 70% of cases (the Post says up to 70%), even with aggressive treatment, and usually involves abscesses in the brain; most samples (88%) came from brain tissue and 12% from lung. Daily MirrorL “Infections can be fatal in 60% to 70% of cases, even when patients receive aggressive treatment.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ New York PostR “Most cases (88%) were detected from samples from the brain, though 12% were found from lung samples.” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2The mould is found in soil and decaying matter worldwide and is presumed to infect people who inhale it or who get it in an open wound, though the CDC says relatively little is known about how it infects humans. New York PostR ““Relatively little is known” about how the fungus infects humans, the CDC says, though it’s “presumed” to infect people who simply breathe it in, or it gets into an open wound.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “Cladophialophora bantiana is a mould believed to be contracted through inhalation.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Both immunocompromised and otherwise healthy people are affected; the Post says about half of those infected were not immunocompromised, and Lieberman called that alarming. New York PostR “about half of those who were infected were not immunocompromised.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “Both immunocompromised patients and otherwise healthy individuals can be affected.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Diagnosis and treatment are difficult: the Post says the infection can be mistaken for a brain tumour, and the Mirror says researchers suggest surgical removal alongside antifungal therapy, not a guarantee of recovery. New York PostR “it can be misdiagnosed as a brain tumor” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “Their findings suggest surgical removal alongside antifungal therapy as possible treatment options for these infections.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2The CDC says the reasons for the apparent increase are unknown, and there is no federal tracking or surveillance of the disease. New York PostR “While the CDC says “reasons for the apparent increase are unknown,”” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “there is currently no US government tracking of infections caused by the fungus.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Global warming is suggested as one possible factor, though not established: Lieberman points to a warming world, and the Post cites a study finding cases jumped in France in 2022, the warmest year recorded since 1900. Lieberman also said the numbers are probably an undercount. New York PostR “Lieberman points to one possibility: a warming world.”““We think that we’re probably undersampling,”” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MirrorL “However, the cause of the rise in detections has not been established.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Daily Mirror gives a short, measured summary of the study, stressing the fourfold rise, severity and uncertainty over the cause.
- Emphasis
- Fatality rate, lack of federal tracking, need for clinical awareness, caveat that warming is uncertain.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits case counts, state breakdown, lab rate figures and named researcher quotes.
- Charged language
- “Deadly brain-infecting fungus”
- For example
-
“The possible role of global warming remains uncertain.” — Daily Mirror
“Researchers highlighted the need for greater clinical awareness.” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- New York Post leads with a dramatic, alarm-toned account of a brain-destroying fungus and unexplained rise, backed by detailed figures and quotes.
- Emphasis
- Vivid descriptions of brain damage, detailed case numbers and state counts, Lieberman's quotes, a 44-year-old patient's death, climate link.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; gives less caution on the climate link than the Mirror's explicit caveat.
- Charged language
- “brain-liquifying”“sounding the alarm”“isn’t picky”
- For example
-
“A rare fungus found around the world kills up to 70% of the people it infects by liquifying the brain.” — New York Post
““It’s alarming that it occurs outside of those typical high-risk populations” — New York Post
What every side reports
- CDC-linked research reports a roughly fourfold rise in C. bantiana detections in the US over about two years.
- The fungus is fatal in up to 60-70% of cases and affects the brain.
- The cause of the rise is unknown; warming is suggested as a possibility.
- There is no federal tracking of the infection.
- Both immunocompromised and healthy people can be infected.
Where accounts differ
-
Fatality rate and period of the rise
- Left
- Mirror: fatal in 60% to 70% of cases; fourfold rise from 2023 to 2025.
- Right
- Post: kills up to 70%; cases went from one to five a year (2009-2023) to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025.
CDC organisation
Says reasons for the apparent increase are unknown, little is known about how the fungus infects people, and there is no federal tracking.
“While the CDC says “reasons for the apparent increase are unknown,”” — New York Post
“They warn there’s no federal tracking and surveillance of the disease.” — New York Post
Fungal infections topic
Fungal pathogens are described as possibly thriving and adapting as the climate warms, though the link is unproven.
“Researchers have been warning that warmer temperatures allow for more fungal pathogens to thrive” — New York Post
Left1 article
-
Deadly brain-infecting fungus on the rise in the US
Neutral Concise, cautious summary of the study with explicit caveats on cause and treatment.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Deadly, brain-liquifying fungus is on the rise in the US — and scientists don’t know why
Alarmist Dramatic lede about a brain-liquifying fungus, followed by detailed data and researcher quotes.
- 14 Oct 15:29 First New York PostR Deadly, brain-liquifying fungus is on the rise in the US — and scientists don’t know why
- 15 Oct 14:49 +23h 19m Daily MirrorL Deadly brain-infecting fungus on the rise in the US
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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