PARIS – 16 Mai 2024 –

Une étude récente prédit que les champignons mortels responsables de millions de décès chaque année, verront leur aire de répartition s’étendre en raison du réchauffement climatique. Des scientifiques de l’université de Manchester ont modélisé la propagation future d’Aspergillus, un groupe de champignons courants. Ces avancées soulignent le besoin urgent de recherche et de préparation face à l’expansion potentielle de ces pathogènes. Pour en savoir plus, lisez la suite.

Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and a more engaging tone:

Deadly Fungi Set to Spread as Climate Warms, Experts Warn

A new study predicts that deadly, infection-causing fungi, already responsible for millions of deaths annually, will considerably expand their reach as the planet heats up. Experts warn that the world is woefully unprepared for this looming threat.

Fungi are ubiquitous,a vast kingdom of organisms encompassing everything from mold to mushrooms,thriving in diverse environments like soil,compost,and water. While they play crucial roles in ecosystems, their impact on human health can be devastating. Fungal infections claim an estimated 2.5 million lives each year, a number that could be significantly higher due to underreporting and a lack of comprehensive data.

Despite their prevalence and potential danger, our understanding of fungi, particularly their adaptability to climate change, remains limited.

Now, a team of scientists from Manchester University has used computer simulations to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus, a common group of fungi that can cause aspergillosis, a life-threatening lung disease.

Their findings indicate that certain Aspergillus species will expand their range as the climate crisis intensifies, encroaching upon new territories in North America, Europe, China, and Russia. The study, currently undergoing peer review, highlights the urgent need for increased research and preparedness.

“Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future,” said Norman van Rijn, a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester and one of the study’s authors.

The field of mycology (the study of fungi) has recently gained attention, partly due to the popular HBO television drama “The Last of Us,” which depicts a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a mutant fungus. (HBO and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)

While the show is fictional, van Rijn hopes it will raise awareness of the very real threat posed by fungal infections, which are already claiming millions of lives.

Aspergillus fungi thrive in soils worldwide, releasing countless microscopic spores into the air. While most people inhale these spores daily without experiencing any ill effects, those with pre-existing lung conditions (such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD) or compromised immune systems (including cancer and organ transplant patients, and those recovering from severe flu or COVID-19) are at significantly higher risk.

If the body’s immune system fails to clear the spores, the fungus can take hold, leading to a severe infection. Aspergillosis has a high mortality rate, ranging from 20% to 40%, and is notoriously difficult to diagnose, as doctors don’t always consider it.

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