Experts are warning people to be wary about a deadly fungus that is ravaging across the US. This lethal fungus is rapidly spreading across the country and experts believe the problem could worsen as temperatures rise.

Aspergillus fumigatus is the fungus that is being warned about and it is airborne. On getting infected, it can cause aspergillosis, a serious lung infection that can eventually lead to organ failure and death.

Who is at risk?

Healthline specifies the following to be at most risk due to Aspergillus fumigatus.

A) Those who have a weakened immune system, which can include if they are taking immunosuppressive drugs, have certain blood cancers or are in the later stages of AIDS

B) Those who have a lung condition, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis

C) Those who have a low white blood cell count, which can occur if they are undergoing chemotherapy or if they had an organ transplant

D) Those who have been on long-term corticosteroid therapy

D) Those who are recovering from a recent influenza infection

As per Daily Mail, scientists have found the fungus invading parts of the US, with Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and California seeing the highest exposure.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) designated Aspergillus fumigatus as a ‘critical priority’ fungal pathogen due to its increasing drug resistance and high associated mortality rates.

The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments, and even survives in temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit in compost piles. Doctors advise people with weakened immune systems to avoid soil, gardening, and moldy environments, wear masks in dusty areas, and maintain clean air in hospitals and homes. US hospitals have stepped up mold inspections and antifungal protocols, reported Daily Mail.

Previously, the United States had charged two Chinese nationals with smuggling into the country a dangerous biological pathogen called ‘Fusarium Graminearum’, a fungus that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops, including wheat, barley, rice, and oats, as well as ear rot and stalk rot in maize.