A deadly fungus that can infect cats and people is spreading

A dangerous fungal disease caused by *Sporothrix brasiliensis* has infected over 11,000 people and thousands of cats in South America since the 1990s, causing severe skin ulcers and potentially fatal infections in both species. The fungus, which spreads from cats to humans and is increasingly drug-resistant, has not yet reached the United States but officials warn it is only a matter of time, as it could easily spread through infected animals traveling from affected regions. Unlike typical fungal infections, this pathogen can spread through yeast form contact, making it particularly concerning for densely populated urban areas and regions with large feral cat populations.