The Brief Health officials are tracking an emerging fungus called Candida auris, which has infected 13 people in Washington state. The fungus spreads easily among sick patients in care facilities and can cause a range of symptoms from skin infections to severe bloodstream infections. According to a data report from the CDC that tracks weekly cases of notifiable diseases in the U.S., there are 13 cases in Washington state as of 2026. This means people who are colonized can spread C. Auris onto surfaces and objects around them without knowing. What we don't know:Health officials have not disclosed which specific cities, counties or care facilities in Washington state account for the 13 reported cases.