A secret Government dossier has exposed a silent and deadly crisis unfolding within the walls of UK hospitals. The leaked document, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, reveals that a highly infectious and often lethal fungus is causing significant outbreaks across the country.
The confidential memo from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) raises the alarm over Candidozyma Auris (C. auris), warning that the NHS is currently underprepared for the scale of this threat. Despite concerning under-reporting of cases by the health service, the number of infections has risen at an alarming rate.
A Silent and Resilient Killer
This horror illness poses a unique danger due to its ability to lie dormant for years. It can survive undetected on surfaces like radiators, windowsills, and medical equipment, as well as on people's skin. The real peril begins when it enters the bloodstream through cuts or scratches.
Once inside the body, C. auris proves lethal in up to 60% of cases within 90 days, according to the World Health Organisation, which has designated it a critical priority fungal pathogen. The fungus is becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal medications, making it particularly deadly for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Widespread Outbreaks and Official Silence
A map within the confidential report shows the frightening reach of the pathogen, which has spread to 72 hospitals in the past two years alone. There have been almost 500 confirmed cases in that time.
One of the most serious ongoing outbreaks is at Guys and St Thomas's Hospital in London, where 222 cases have been detected, though it is unclear how many are invasive bloodstream infections. In just the last 12 weeks, cases have been identified at ten different hospitals.
Despite the severity, health authorities have repeatedly refused to disclose the number of UK deaths. The UKHSA expects the mortality rate to be lower in Britain than the global figure, but their silence has drawn sharp criticism.
Tory health spokesman Stuart Andrew stated: ‘Their silence is deeply concerning. Protecting national health demands honesty and openness about the scale of the risk. Anything less will undermine both public confidence and safety.’
A New Level of Threat and the Response
In a significant move that underscores the gravity of the situation, the UKHSA designated C. auris as a ‘schedule 2’ illness in April. This is the first time a fungus has been categorised this way, placing it on par with some of the UK's most serious diseases.
In response to the outbreaks, a UKHSA spokesperson, Rohini Manuel, said: ‘UKHSA is working with the NHS to investigate the reasons behind this. Outbreaks in this country are rare but we are supporting a number of trusts to limit the spread of C. auris.’
With no known vaccine available, the battle against this resilient fungus relies on containment and cleaning, a task experts note is exceptionally difficult. The situation presents a critical challenge to the UK's healthcare infrastructure, demanding transparency and urgent action.
