Researchers from The University of Manchester have forecast there will be an increased risk of infection from fungi over the coming years, including a significant spread of some fungal pathogens across Europe, the extent of which will depend on global actions to mitigate climate change.
Less climate mitigation will increase the spread of fungal pathogens in certain areas, putting more people at risk.
Novel projections show that in 15 years, if we rely on fossil fuels instead of clean power (scenario of SSP585 [sos.noaa.gov]*), we are likely to see the significant spread of certain fungal pathogens in Europe
Under this scenario, the spread of Aspergillus flavus, for example, could increase by about 16%, putting 1 million more people at risk of infection in Europe. Infections affect the respiratory system, and this fungus infects a broad range of agricultural crops
The predictions also show that the spread of another fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, could increase by 77.5% and potentially expose 9 million people in Europe
This, they say, is a concerning trend due to a rise in antifungal resistance and a severe lack of diagnostics and treatment options for fungal infections
Dr. Norman van Rhijn said: “Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread.
“We’ve already seen the emergence of the fungus Candida auris due to rising temperatures, but, until now, we had little information of how other fungi might respond to this change in the environment. Fungi are relatively under researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future. Raising awareness and developing effective interventions for fungal pathogens will be essential to mitigate the consequences of this.”
