Stories From the Field Fighting a deadly fungus: A new strategy
to prevent deaths due to Cryptococcus In sub-Saharan Africa,
Cryptococcal meningitis is estimated to kill more people than
tuberculosis. In people with weakened immune systems, the fungus
Cryptococcus causes life-threatening meningeal infections in
nearly a million people every year. Cryptococcus is the most
common cause of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a
leading cause of death among people with HIV. Expert economists
from the Copenhagen Consensus Center recently ranked the
prevention of cryptococcal meningitis 12th on their list of
priorities for their RethinkHIV research initiative, which aims
to reduce HIV-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Although
it is not possible to prevent the initial infection with
Cryptococcus, screening for cryptococcal antigen can detect
disease before meningitis develops so treatment can begin and
prevent death. A rapid, point-of-care dipstick test is now
available for use in screening. CDC is worki