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CHICAGO (AP) – State health officials have indicated that Illinois has 154 confirmed cases of rapidly spreading and potentially fatal fungal infection.
The Chicago Tribune announced Tuesday that Illinois was the second largest case of Candida auris behind New York and about a quarter of cases nationwide. There is a high concentration in the Chicago area. The Illinois Department of Public Health has stated that the fungus is becoming widespread, especially in health care facilities.
The fungus can be resistant to drug treatment and dangerous for elderly and sick patients who have undergone invasive medical procedures. State officials had no statistics Monday on deaths in Illinois.
Health officials said 95 cases were in Chicago, 56 in the suburbs of Cook County, seven in DuPage, Lake and Will counties and three near St. Louis.
Officials encourage hand washing to reduce the spread of the disease.
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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
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