Since early in the Covid epidemic, I've followed Katelyn Jetelina, who posts regularly as "Your Local Epidemiologist", for real time information on the progress of the virus and various remediation methods. Quite useful, both in fine tuning our disinfection regimen and in helping to keep safe, and working, my folks (and myself).
Back in February, she posted (just to lighten the mood, I suspect) her take on the recent TV hit "The Last of Us", about an insect fungus that evolves to infect humans - and take over their minds, as it does ants in the real world. She got together with an Emory based plant scientist to explore the plausibility of the scenario.
Turns out the fungus exists, and does what it's reputed to do. Probably would need major evolution to adapt to infect humans (ants are cold blooded; humans are not. At least most humans...) It would also have difficulty controlling the human brain the way it does ants - our brains are a good deal more complex (again, most of us).
But, her conclusion:
"Fiction: The “nature” of a fungal pandemic
"We can have a fungal pandemic, but it would look very different from this show and very different from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
"Yes, many fungi are airborne, so mask wars would likely commence during a fungal pandemic.
"But fungi thrive in hospitals—IV lines, catheters, blood pressure cuffs. Standard cleaning measures are ineffective and whole units or whole hospitals would need to be shut down. So, more likely, a fungal pandemic would cause the complete collapse of our healthcare system. This, of course, would have devastating effects for societies."
Good to know. The world is now a bit more interesting.
Bleach will kill fungi, depending on strength and dwell time. Hydrogen peroxide will as well. Our go-to disinfectant is HP based, but claims effectiveness only over viruses and bacteria, likely again based on strength and dwell time.
To repeat - the world is more and more interesting.
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