Warning over highly contagious rare genital fungus spreading through sex

Cases of a rare genital funguscalled ‘jock itch’ have risen in New York this year, a health report has revealed.

The first US case of Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII), the genital fungus, was recorded in June of this year.

But this week, the CDC issued a worrying report revealing that there has been four additional infections diagnosed between April and June 2024.

If the fungus becomes infected, it can cause genital tinea, also known as ‘jock itch,’ which affects the skin around the groin, inner thighs and buttocks.

All of the people diagnosed with the infection in New York City were men who have sex with men – an indication that the fungus can be spread through sexual contact.

The CDC said: ‘All four patients were cisgender men aged 30-39 years who reported recent sexual contact with other men.

‘Patients A and D reported sexual contact with each other, B and C had no known epidemiologic link to anyone with known TMVII infection. Patient D was a sex worker.

‘TMVII infections have been reported among men who have sex with men in France since 2021 and previously in men who have travelled to Southeast Asia for sex tourism.’

The infection is a dermatophyte, meaning it thrives in warm of conditions.

Symptoms of the infection include an itchy, red, and ring-shaped rash, flaky or peeling skin, and sometimes a burning sensation. It has been described as similar to a ring-worm, without any sort of worm being involved.

The CDC commented: ‘TMVII can cause pruritic, annular, scaly lesions on the trunk, groin, genitals, or face. It might be mistaken for eczema, psoriasis, or other dermatologic conditions.

‘Some patients experience inflamed, painful, and persistent lesions that can lead to scarring or secondary bacterial infections.’

The infection can be combated, usually successfully, with over-the-counter creams like clotrimazole or terbinafine. All of the diagnosed men were successfully treated with over-counter-counter creams found at pharmacies and stores.

The CDC reiterated that those who fear they have got TMVII should avoid sex.

They said: ‘Healthcare providers should be aware that TMVII can spread through sexual contact and cause lesions on the genitals, buttocks, face, trunk, or extremities.

‘Patients should be advised about the importance of avoiding skin-to-skin contact with affected areas and not sharing personal items until symptom resolution.’

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