The Centers for Disease Control has labeled a drug-resistant 'superbug' an 'urgent threat', on the rise in the Garden State.

Enter your number to get our mobile branded app

The virus is reportedly a fungal infection called 'Candida auris', and it can be fatal as a yeast that does not respond to anti-fungal medications. It's been found in 14 states including New Jersey, but is also growing globally, according to Patch.com.

137 cases of C. auris have been confirmed in N.J., with 22 other cases labeled 'probable'.

Symptoms of C. auris include difficulty swallowing, burning, genital itching and sometimes a cheese-like discharge that looks white, CDC reports.

So, what's the single best way to avoid contracting Candida auris? CDC recommends good old fashioned, frequent (and thorough) hand washing.

 

More From SoJO 104.9 FM