The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning about a so-called fungal “superbug” that has sickened more than 600 people across the world.
Officials say that Candida auris, a type of yeast, has been causing severe illness in hospitalized patients.
The CDC says in some cases the yeast can enter the patient’s bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing serious infection.
They say Candida auris poses a serious global health threat because it is resistant to multiple anti-fungal drugs used to treat infections.
Officials say that New Jersey has had 132 confirmed and probable cases of the illness – the third-most in the United States. But New Jersey health officials say that some of the cases date back to 2015. A spokesperson for the department says that not all 132 cases are classified as "active."
New York has the most confirmed and probable cases at 313 instances of confirmed and probable cases.