This has gotten replies focusing on aspects such as the "human interest angle" purple prose of the article. One of the whole problems with that style of writing

This has gotten replies focusing on aspects such as the "human interest angle" purple prose of the article. One of the whole problems with that style of writing really, it can end up drawing so much attention to the writing itself that it can overshadow the topic. But the topic really is a big deal! And as HN has a significant US contingent I want to reemphasize the section this paragraph starts at the end: >"Until recently, the United States was exempt from concerns about azole-resistant Aspergillus. Azole use here has historically been low, a small percentage of what happens in Europe—though the numbers that record it, kept by the U.S. Geological Survey, may be incorrect because submitting them is voluntary. Nevertheless, tebuconazole use in the United States rose five times over from 1995 to 2015; the crops that accounted for the most use were wheat and corn. Meanwhile, a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) poll of state health laboratories found no cases of resistance as recently as 2014. But last month, the CDC disclosed that 10 patients treated in the United States have been diagnosed with triazole-resistant Aspergillus bearing the mutations associated with agriculture. In a report in its weekly bulletin, the agency analyzed the records of seven of them. Four of them had never received azoles before they were diagnosed with the resistant strain. Three of the patients died." With the discussions on antibiotic resistance softening the way, I think real action might be yet possible to forestall this becoming as entrenched an issue over here. I drafted a letter and sent it on my way home from work to my House rep and both my Senators. Seriously, this shouldn't have too many entrenched interests behind it yet, it's relatively small scale and doesn't seem to have the same sort of alternate usage and dependencies agricultural antibiotic use does. And the description of fungal tendrils growing through the lungs then sprouting in internal organs is sufficient graphic and terrifying (like, for those who don't find "100% fatality rate" worrisome by itself) and easy to understand that it could generate a real quick public interest. If a lot of people had no idea this was even a thing, don't assume your reps have it on their radar either. A quick "just use what you were using before and save the medicine for our children" ban before use can really ramp up might well be feasible. In my experience people writing to express issues are rare, such things do get read and if there is no one yet lobbying against it can be the stuff of easy political wins (and/or get slipped into omnibus bills for better and for worse). Also if you live in the Southwest then I think "valley fever" must link into this, it's also a deadly fungal infection. Treatment is fluconazole.