A new study has warned that Aspergillus, a fungus that causes millions of deaths each year, could spread to new areas as global temperatures rise.
Researchers from Manchester University said the fungus, which is commonly found in the environment, can cause serious infections in people, animals, and plants. It causes aspergillosis, a life-threatening disease that primarily affects humans’ lungs.
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The researchers used computer simulations and forecasts to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus. They found that as the climate crisis worsens, some Aspergillus species are likely to spread into new areas, including parts of North America, Europe, China, and Russia.
“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,” said Norman van Rijn, one of the study’s authors and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester.
The study was published earlier this month and is now being peer-reviewed, according to CNN.
Aspergillus is a type of fungus found in soil, plants, and indoor dust. Most people breathe in its spores without getting sick, but it can cause serious infections in those with weak immune systems or lung problems.
If the body’s immune system fails to clear the spores, the fungus “starts to grow and basically kind of eats you from the inside out, saying it bluntly,” van Rijn said.
