Deadly Fungal Infections Like Aspergillus Expected to Rise Due to Climate Change: Study Warns

New Delhi: A new threat is emerging as rising global temperatures may fuel the spread of dangerous fungal infections, putting millions more people at risk.

Researchers from The University of Manchester has forecast an increased risk of fungal infections over the coming years, with a significant spread of certain fungal pathogens across Europe. The extent of this spread will largely depend on global climate change mitigation efforts.

The study published on the preprint platform Research Square and funded by Wellcome uses climate modeling to map how the global distributions of three fungal pathogens, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus niger, could change as a result of rising temperatures and environmental shifts through 2100.

The projections reveal that under a fossil fuel dependent scenario, known as SSP585, the spread of Aspergillus flavus could increase by about 16 percent, putting 1 million more people in Europe at risk of infection.

At the same time, Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus responsible for severe lung infections, could expand its range by 77.5 percent, potentially exposing 9 million Europeans.

These increases are especially concerning given rising antifungal resistance and a severe shortage of diagnostics, vaccines, and effective treatments for fungal infections.

Dr Norman van Rhijn, lead researcher at the University of Manchester, emphasized the urgent need for awareness and intervention: "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. Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread," he further added.

The researchers also highlight that while rising temperatures may allow fungi to spread more widely in Europe, some regions such as parts of Africa could become too hot for certain fungi to survive. Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and contributing to the carbon cycle that regulates climate.

Antifungal resistance is further worsened by the agricultural use of fungicides to protect crops and support food production. The study also examined how environmental changes impact fungicide use.

Viv Goosens, Research Manager at Wellcome, stated: “Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse. To address these challenges, we must fill important research gaps. By using models and maps to track the spread of fungi, we can better direct resources and prepare for the future.”

Fungal infections spread through airborne spores, putting people with weakened immune systems, co-morbidities, and other risk factors at highest risk. However, rising temperatures could enable fungi to become more pathogenic, increasing infections even among healthy individuals.