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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Deadly fungus that 'eats you from the inside out' invades US: 'Hundreds of thousands of lives at risk'
A lethal fungus that can rot human tissue from within is spreading rapidly across the US, and experts warn the problem could worsen as temperatures rise. Aspergillus fumigatus is airborne and nearly impossible to avoid. Its spores are so tiny that people inhale them without noticing. It can cause a serious lung infection called aspergillosis, which in vulnerable individuals can lead to organ failure and death. Those with weakened immune systems, such as patients with cancer, asthma, or HIV, are especially at risk. Scientists have found the fungus invading parts of the US, with Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and California seeing the highest exposure due to hot, humid climates and farming activity. Major cities like New York, Houston, and Los Angeles face added risks from dense populations and aging infrastructure. Officials said that aspergillosis isn't a reportable disease in the US, meaning infections, hospitalizations, and deaths aren't tracked, making it hard to detect. 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. Co-author Norman van Rhijn, from the University of Manchester, told the Financial Times: 'We're talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions. 'In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different.' About 400,000 of these cases develop into chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, a long-term lung infection. Invasive aspergillosis is less common but far deadlier. It mainly targets people with weakened immune systems and can spread from the lungs to the brain, heart, and kidneys. One study found only 59 percent of organ transplant patients survived a year after infection, and just 25 percent of stem cell transplant patients. Hospitalizations for invasive aspergillosis in the US rose about three percent annually from 2000 to 2013. By 2014, nearly 15,000 hospital stays were recorded, costing an estimated $1.2 billion. ICU autopsies show aspergillosis ranks among the top four infections likely to cause death. The World Health Organization lists Aspergillus fumigatus as a 'critical priority' fungal threat due to rising drug resistance and high death rates. The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments, even surviving temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit in compost piles. Climate change is making it easier for the fungus to survive inside the human body as global temperatures rise. A new study conducted by University of Manchester found that if fossil fuel use continues at current levels, the fungus could expand by more than 75 percent by 2100, putting millions more at risk in the southern US, where conditions mirror those forecasts. Azole drugs, widely used to treat fungal infections in humans, are also heavily applied in agriculture to protect crops. Experts warn this overuse may be driving drug resistance, which can transfer from the environment to humans and reduce treatment effectiveness. A study published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology, found azole-resistant, Aspergillus fumigatus in farm soil across at least seven US states, with many strains resistant to standard antifungal drugs. Scientists warn the mixing of different fungal types is speeding resistance spread and suggests the problem is already deeply rooted in US soil. The WHO urges immediate investment in safer drugs, faster testing, and better training for health workers, while calling on drug companies to prioritize fungal research and include children in clinical trials. 'This isn't science fiction,' said Dr Vyas, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University. 'These infections are real, and we're not ready.'
Al Jazeera
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
‘It's so painful what we see in Gaza,' Guardiola says in emotional speech
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the images of children being killed during Israel's war on Gaza are 'painful' and have left him 'deeply troubled'. The Spanish manager of the English Premier League club urged the world to speak up instead of choosing to stay silent 'in the face of injustice' as he addressed an audience after receiving an honorary degree at the University of Manchester on Monday. 'It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body,' Guardiola said. 'Maybe we think that when we see four-year-old boys and girls being killed by bombs or being killed at a hospital, which is not a hospital any more, it's not our business. Yeah, fine, it's not our business. But be careful – the next four- or five-year-old kids will be ours.' Mentioning his three children – Maria, Marius and Valentina – Guardiola said that every morning 'since the nightmare started' in Gaza, whenever he sees his two daughters and son he is reminded of the children in Gaza, which leaves him feeling 'so scared'. About half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are children. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 17,400 children, including 15,600 who have been identified, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Many more remain buried under the rubble and are presumed dead. Many of the surviving children have endured the trauma of multiple wars, and all of them have spent their lives under an oppressive Israeli blockade. Over the past 20 months, Israeli attacks have left their homes in ruins, destroyed their schools, and overwhelmed their healthcare facilities. During his emotional speech, which has been widely shared on social media, Guardiola said the world remains silent in the face of injustice. 'We feel safer [staying silent] than speaking up,' he added. 'Maybe this image feels far away from where we are living now, and you might ask what we can do,' he added. He then went on to narrate the story of a bird trying to put out a fire in a forest by repeatedly carrying water in its beak. 'In a world that often tells us we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me the power of one is not about the scale – it's about choice, about showing up, about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.' The former Barcelona coach and player said the images out of Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine left him 'deeply troubled'. Guardiola, who has formerly voiced his support for the independence of his native Catalonia, lashed out at world leaders for their inability to stop the wars. 'We see the horrors of thousands and thousands of innocent children, mothers and fathers. 'Entire families suffering, starving and being killed and yet we are surrounded by leaderships in many fields, not just politicians, who don't consider the inequality and injustice.' An independent United Nations commission report released on Tuesday accused Israel of committing the crime against humanity of 'extermination' by attacking Palestinian civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites in Gaza. 'While the destruction of cultural property, including educational facilities, was not in itself a genocidal act, evidence of such conduct may nevertheless infer genocidal intent to destroy a protected group,' the report said. While the report focused on the impact on Gaza, the commission also reported significant consequences for the Palestinian education system in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as a result of ramped-up Israeli military activity, harassment of students and settler attacks. 'Children in Gaza have lost their childhood. With no education available, they are forced to worry about survival amid attacks, uncertainty, starvation and subhuman living conditions,' the report added. 'What is particularly disturbing is the widespread nature of the targeting of educational facilities, which has extended well beyond Gaza, impacting all Palestinian children.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
War in Gaza ‘Hurts My Whole Body', Says Man City Boss Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the war in Gaza "hurts my whole body" as he delivered an emotional speech while being honored by the University of Manchester. Guardiola, 54, was speaking as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday. "It's so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body," Guardiola said in excerpts of his speech shared on social media. "Let me be clear, it's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbor." Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after the attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,981 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable. "Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it's not a hospital anymore, it's not our business," Guardiola. "Yes, fine, we can think about that, it's not our business. But be careful. The next one will be ours. The next four or five-year-old kids will be ours. "Sorry, but I see my kids, Maria, Marius and Valentina when I see every morning, since the nightmare started, the infants in Gaza, and I'm so scared." Guardiola has not shied away from voicing political views in the past, throwing his weight behind the campaign for Catalan independence. He was awarded the honorary degree by the University of Manchester for his unprecedented success at City, where he has won six Premier League titles, as well as his work through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation. The organization takes part in "established projects which strive to support the most disadvantaged". Others within football have spoken out on Gaza. In October 2023, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah called on "world leaders to come together to "prevent further slaughter of innocent souls". The following month Bundesliga club Mainz sacked Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi, now at Cardiff, over social media posts related to the conflict.
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
War in Gaza 'hurts my whole body', says Man City boss Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the war in Gaza "hurts my whole body" as he delivered an emotional speech while being honoured by the University of Manchester. Guardiola, 54, was speaking as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday. "It's so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body," Guardiola said in excerpts of his speech shared on social media. "Let me be clear, it's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour." Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,981 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable. "Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it's not a hospital anymore, it's not our business," Guardiola. "Yes, fine, we can think about that, it's not our business. But be careful. The next one will be ours. The next four or five-year-old kids will be ours. "Sorry, but I see my kids, Maria, Marius and Valentina when I see every morning, since the nightmare started, the infants in Gaza, and I'm so scared." Guardiola has not shied away from voicing political views in the past, throwing his weight behind the campaign for Catalan independence. He was awarded the honorary degree by the University of Manchester for his unprecedented success at City, where he has won six Premier League titles, as well as his work through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation. The organsisation takes part in "established projects which strive to support the most disadvantaged". Others within football have spoken out on Gaza. In October 2023, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah called on "world leaders to come together to "prevent further slaughter of innocent souls". The following month Bundesliga club Mainz sacked Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi, now at Cardiff, over social media posts related to the conflict. jw/jkb/pi
Khaleej Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Gaza war hurts my whole body, says Man City manager Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday and used his acceptance speech to address the war in Gaza. The war erupted after Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, in the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel's military campaign has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. "It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body," Guardiola said. "It's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour. "Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it's not a hospital anymore. It's not our business. "But be careful. The next four- or five-year-old kids will be ours. Sorry, but I see my kids, Maria, Marius and Valentina. When I see every morning since the nightmare started the infants in Gaza, and I'm so scared." Guardiola was recognised for his contribution to the city, including guiding his team to six Premier League titles in nine years with the club, along with his charitable work through his Guardiola Sala Foundation. The 54-year-old Spaniard was presented with his honorary degree by the University's Chancellor Nazir Afzal at Whitworth Hall.
