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Is a fungal pandemic possible?

From a life threatening fungal meningitis to a super bug that shuts down hospitals, is a fungal pandemic possible?

James Gallagher asks whether the next pandemic might be an invasive fungi? Most people think of athlete's foot or fungal toe nails but the World Health Organisation recently issued the first ever list of life threatening fungi. James hears stories of hospitals being shut down, a ruined honeymoon and fungal infections that consume human tissue leaving terrible disfigurement. Add to that ‘The Last of Us’ a hit video game turned new TV series where a parasitic fungus manipulating the brains of ants has jumped to people. Sounds fanciful but while this particular fungus couldn’t cross from ants to humans, Dr Neil Stone explains why invasive fungal infections are on the rise and a potential pandemic should not be dismissed.
Producer, Erika Wright

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 25 Jan 2023 15:30

Broadcasts

  • Tue 24 Jan 2023 21:00
  • Wed 25 Jan 2023 15:30

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