Minnesota Confirms Outbreak of Sexually Transmitted TMVII Fungal Infection

Minnesota health officials have confirmed an outbreak of Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII), an emerging, sometimes sexually transmitted fungal skin infection that causes ringworm‑like rashes, and say at least 14 cases have been confirmed since July 2025 with another 27 suspected. In a formal health alert, the Minnesota Department of Health said TMVII—first detected in a U.S. patient in New York in 2024 and now confirmed by CDC in multiple cities—appears to be spreading through sexual and other close skin‑to‑skin contact within networks, prompting the state to set up enhanced surveillance to identify additional infections. Experts note TMVII produces round, red, itchy and sometimes painful lesions that can be mistaken for eczema or ordinary ringworm and may not respond to typical over‑the‑counter antifungal creams, often requiring prescription treatment and, in some cases, lab confirmation. While current U.S. data suggest men who have sex with men and commercial sex workers are at highest risk, physicians stress the fungus can spread from any infected person, and can also be picked up via contaminated towels or communal showers, making gym and locker‑room hygiene important. Infectious‑disease specialists warn that immunocompromised patients may develop more widespread and serious disease, and urge clinicians nationally to consider TMVII in persistent or unusual rashes, especially when linked to sexual contact or travel to affected areas.