CDC Uncovers Mysterious Skin Infection Spreading in NYC

A medical mystery is unfolding in New York City as the Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) found a “recently emerged” skin infection that is drug-resistant.

This new skin condition has never been identified before in the United States. However, two patients in NYC appeared to have this infection.

According to federal health officials, more cases are still under review. CDC identified that this “drug-resistant” infection causes intense ringworms in two women.

What are the symptoms of the mysterious skin infection?

The ringworm, also well-known as tinea causes red and itchy rashes on large parts of the body. In addition, NYC patients with this skin infection have experienced lesions on their abdomen, neck, thighs, and buttons, according to a CDC report.

NYC Finds Cases of Drug-Resistant Skin Infection Never-Before-Seen in US https://t.co/Gy1gQXktuN

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Medical experts have tested this certain type of ringworm. They found that it was a Trichophyton indotineae. Scientists said this strain has achieved ‘epidemic proportions” in South Asia.

Moreover, intermittent cases have emerged in other parts of the world, such as Canada and Europe. However, these two cases in New York are the first cases in the US.

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An NBC New York report said the CDC is more concerned about this certain strain because the skin infection doesn’t respond to the dermatologists’ prescribed treatments.

Last February, the agency first encountered the situation of this skin virus when a dermatologist reported two cases. These patients are both women, 47 and 28 years old.

The younger patient, who was pregnant at that time, showed symptoms in the summer of 2021. She had no history of international travel, thus making the CDC conclude it was a local spread of the virus.

Health experts prescribed the 28-year-old with an anti-fungal treatment. However, the medication failed to cure the rash, and a four-week use of itraconazole subsided the symptoms.

After a year, the CDC confirmed the older patient developed symptoms while she was in Bangladesh. She used topical creams.

However, when she came back to the US, she visited the “emergency department” three times to ask for additional medications. The second topical treatment with two four-week medications helped her achieve 80% healing.

The report said that the woman lives with her husband and son. Both also developed the same symptoms. According to CDC, they are studying their cases.

One of the attending physicians, Dr. Avrom Caplan, told NBC News that the skin infection “is not a widespread” concern in the US. Moreover, ringworm spreads through skin contact.

It can appear on most parts of the skin. Although children mostly have these ringworms, anyone can catch a skin infection. If you have symptoms of this certain strain of ringworm, better to ask for a doctor’s help.