C. gattii Infection Risk & Prevention

Anyone can be infected with C. gattii if they’ve been in an area where the fungus lives in the environment. However, in different parts of the world, different characteristics may make some people more likely to get C. gattii infections than others. For example, in Australia and New Zealand, C. gattii infections are thought to be more common among people who are otherwise healthy, males, and people of Australian aborigine ethnicity.¹ However, a study of people who got C. gattii infections in British Columbia, Canada² found that the disease was more likely to occur in people who:

• Have weakened immune systems, for example, by:
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Cancer treatment
  • Medications that weaken the immune system such as corticosteroids
• Have other lung conditions
• Are 50 years of age or older
• Smoke tobacco

Scientists are still learning about why C. gattii appears to affect different groups of people in different areas of the world.

No. The infection can’t spread between people or between people and animals.

Yes. Pets can get C. gattii infections, but it is very rare, and the infection cannot spread between animals and people. The symptoms of C. gattii infection in pets such as cats and dogs are similar to the symptoms in humans.² If you’re concerned about your pet’s risk of getting a C. gattii infection, or if you think that your pet has the infection, please talk to a veterinarian.

There are no formal recommendations to prevent C. gattii infection. Most people breathe in small amounts of many fungi every day but never become sick. If you have symptoms that you think may be caused by C. gattii, you should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• Surveillance. In Oregon and Washington, healthcare providers and laboratories are required to report C. gattii cases to public health authorities. Disease reporting helps government officials and healthcare providers monitor trends in the number of C. gattii cases.
• International partnerships. Medical, public health, and laboratory professionals in Australia, Europe, Canada, and the U.S. are working together to compare and better understand C. gattii infections in different parts of the world.