Two cases of ringworm resistant to antibiotics have been reported in America.
U.S. health officials have said there is a risk of an outbreak of ringworm, which is resistant to antibiotics. The announcement follows two reported cases in New York City, writes the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health's federal agency.
The cases were unrelated and developed at different times. Initially, medics thought the shingles was caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which was caused by a pet.
But analysis showed that the causative fungus belonged to a species that had been discovered relatively recently - Trichophyton indotineae. At the same time, it was resistant to terbinafine, a drug used for various infections caused by fungi that affect the skin and nails.
The fungus was first identified in India in 2014 and then in Europe in 2020. Cases found in America say the fungus has spread, which is a concern for experts.