A highly contagious form of ringworm that can spread via sexual contact has been spotted in the U.S. for the first time.
Ringworm, also known as tinea, is a skin infection caused by a variety of fungi. In this case, a fungus called Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII) is the culprit. It's previously been documented in Southeast Asia and in Europe. For example, in 2023, Paris-based doctors published a case series of 13 infections documented among men in the city. Those recent cases took place among men who have sex with men, hinting that the fungus might currently be circulating within that demographic, although anyone can develop the infection.
