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Around four million people are dying every year from fungal infections, new research indicates – nearly double the previous global estimate.
The study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, says that more than 6.55 million people annually are affected by invasive fungal infections. These lead to more than 3.75 million deaths, of which 2.55 million are directly attributable to fungal disease.
According to the estimate, this means fungal infections account for around six per cent of all global deaths, killing six times more people than malaria, and almost three times as many as tuberculosis.
There are millions of different fungal species across the planet, which humans are regularly exposed to in everyday life. The vast majority of people have immunity to these infections and do not develop disease.
However, such pathogens can be deadly for those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer and HIV patients, who make up a large number of the people dying every year from fungal infections.
www.telegraph.co.uk
The study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, says that more than 6.55 million people annually are affected by invasive fungal infections. These lead to more than 3.75 million deaths, of which 2.55 million are directly attributable to fungal disease.
According to the estimate, this means fungal infections account for around six per cent of all global deaths, killing six times more people than malaria, and almost three times as many as tuberculosis.
There are millions of different fungal species across the planet, which humans are regularly exposed to in everyday life. The vast majority of people have immunity to these infections and do not develop disease.
However, such pathogens can be deadly for those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer and HIV patients, who make up a large number of the people dying every year from fungal infections.
Worldwide fungal deaths twice as high as previously thought, research shows
A new study suggests that fungal infections now account for around six per cent of all global deaths
www.telegraph.co.uk
