A deadly fungus that already kills nearly two million people a year could soon spread across the UK, experts have warned. The fungal infection, caused by species of Aspergillus, is expected to move north from tropical regions into Europe and the UK as the planet continues to heat up, according to a new study funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Scientists behind the research said climate change is increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, and that fungal infections, though often overlooked, are becoming harder to treat and more widespread. Dr Norman van Rhijn, a researcher at the University of Manchester and lead author of the study, told Sky News: “Most fungi live in the environment. Because that environment is rapidly changing, we will definitely see different kinds of diseases and infections popping up over the next 50 years or so.”
The fungus can cause invasive aspergillosis, a serious infection that begins in the lungs and can spread to the brain.
While healthy immune systems usually fight off the spores, vulnerable people are at risk of severe illness or death.
Globally, fungal infections are responsible for up to 2.5 million deaths each year, with Aspergillus species accounting for the majority.
One strain, Aspergillus fumigatus, is currently responsible for around 1.8 million fatalities annually.
Experts warn the fungi are “extremely difficult” to treat. Dr van Rhijn explained that there are few antifungal medications available, and that drug resistance is growing.
“They’re also very hard to diagnose,” he said.
The study predicts that even under a best-case climate scenario, where global warming is limited to around 2C, certain Aspergillus strains could still spread into the UK and parts of Scandinavia.
Warmer weather may cause the fungi to die off in parts of southern Europe, but increase their presence further north – putting millions more people at risk.
Aspergillus niger, for example, could see a 10% expansion in Europe, affecting an estimated 10 million additional people.
The study has not yet been peer-reviewed, but is supported by the Wellcome Trust, a major health research institution.
Viv Goosens, research manager at Wellcome, said: “Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse.”
The research comes amid growing concern over how warming temperatures are fuelling the spread of diseases previously confined to tropical or subtropical regions.
The Last of Us, the popular TV series, dramatises the fictional impact of a deadly brain-controlling fungus, but experts say real-world threats are already serious enough.
Professor Dann Mitchell from the University of Bristol, who was not involved in the study, urged health systems to prepare.
“Misdiagnosis is common when new pathogens appear in unfamiliar regions,” he said. “We need to be ready to recognise and respond to these threats.”
