07/30/2026
U.S. health officials are increasingly worried about Sporothrix brasiliensis, a fungal pathogen that spreads through cats.
Infected cats will develop painful skin ulcers and swollen lymph glands. When left untreated, the fungus spreads through the body, eventually becoming fatal. It can also jump to humans, who also develop painful skin lesions after being scratched or bitten by infected cats. It can kill a person in severe cases, especially if the person is immunocompromised.