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+--- Thread: Article Sexually transmitted fungus making itself cozy in the US (DIY in the Twin Cities) (/thread-19781.html)
Sexually transmitted fungus making itself cozy in the US (DIY in the Twin Cities) - C C - Feb 13, 2026
https://gizmodo.com/a-sti-fungus-is-making-itself-cozy-in-the-us-2000721188
EXCERPTS: A sexually transmitted form of ringworm is making a gross splash in the United States. Health officials in Minnesota are warning doctors and the public about an outbreak of the emerging fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII, also known as TMVII.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there have been dozens of confirmed or suspected TMVII cases seen in the Twin Cities metro area since last summer. It appears to be the largest outbreak of TMVII in the U.S. recorded so far. Doctors in the area are being told to report cases to the health department, while people worried about having it should seek medical care and take precautions with their sexual partners.
“Patients concerned they might have a rash consistent with TMVII, particularly if they have had recent sexual contact with others with a rash, should visit an STI clinic for evaluation and treatment,” the Minnesota Health Department said in a statement shared with Gizmodo on Thursday.
Despite the name, ringworm (or tinea) is actually caused by various species of fungi, not a wormy parasite. It’s the broad term for a distinctive type of skin fungal infection, one that leaves behind a circular rash. Ringworm can be further distinguished by where on the skin this infection happens; ringworm around the feet, for instance, is often known as athlete’s foot.
[...] On the positive side, TMVII does still appear to be readily treatable with antifungals, unlike some other emerging forms of ringworm. But cases have tended to require prolonged treatment to eradicate the infection... (MORE - missing details)