Deadly Fungi on the Rise Worldwide as Climate Warms, Study Finds

Deadly Fungi On The Rise Worldwide As Climate Warms, Study Finds

Thanks to global warming (cheers, climate change), certain deadly fungi are growing faster, spreading wider, and showing up in places they’ve never been before. Europe? Yep. Australia? Uh-huh. And parts of the U.S. aren’t off the hook either.

Experts are now sounding the alarm: the hotter the planet gets, the more these dangerous spores thrive. One of the worst culprits? Aspergillus fumigatus — a nasty mold that can cause severe lung infections. It’s been linked to deadly respiratory diseases and is now expected to expand across Europe by 77% by 2100, according to a study published by The Independent.

That means millions more people could be exposed to a fungus that can — and often does — kill. Not exactly the kind of tourism Europe was hoping for.

Meanwhile, Aspergillus flavus, another mold with a terrifying resume, is also spreading. This one contaminates crops and produces a cancer-causing toxin called aflatoxin. Delicious.

“This is a real and growing problem,” said fungal disease expert Dr. Norman van Rhijn, speaking to The Independent. He warned that people with weakened immune systems, including cancer and transplant patients, are most at risk.

And it’s not just about hotter summers. Wildfires, storms, and even floods help scatter fungal spores into the air. Think of it as nature’s messed-up version of confetti — only way deadlier.

The World Health Organization has already named drug-resistant fungi as a “critical threat.” And while bacteria get all the glory when it comes to antibiotics, fungi are slipping under the radar — and there are way fewer treatments available.

The Financial Times says pharmaceutical companies haven’t been investing much in antifungals because, well, they’re not super profitable. If that sounds like the plot of an episode of The Last of Us, you’re not alone.

And before you panic, let’s be real — you’re not going to catch mushroom madness from your pizza. But it does mean public health officials need to act fast, fund more research, and prep hospitals for the fungal future that’s already at our doorstep.

Because if these fungi keep spreading, we’re not just fighting heatwaves — we’re fighting infections too.