Anvisa received confirmation from a hospital in Recife, Pernambuco, about a second case of the so-called superfungus in the country. The first case was registered, on January 3, in the same hospital, but confirmed only this week.
The agency treats the case as the third outbreak of superfungus in the country. The two patients, a 38-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, were isolated earlier this month, according to Anvisa.
The fungus, which has the scientific name of Candida Auris, can remain on a surface for months and resists many types of disinfectants and common antifungals used to treat diseases caused by other Candida species.
Infections caused by it can reach the bloodstream and cause the death of patients, especially immunosuppressed patients or those with comorbidities, Anvisa said in a statement.
In 2016, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) warned of outbreaks of Candida auris in Latin America.
In Brazil, the first case was registered in December 2020 in Bahia, resulting in 15 cases and two deaths.
In December 2021, a second outbreak occurred after a case was identified, also in Bahia.
With information from Agência Brasil
Reference: CNN Brasil
