Uruguay’s Institute of Hygiene says it has confirmed the presence of Sporothrix brasiliensis, a fungus that can cause a skin infection called sporotrichosis. The alert follows an intrafamily outbreak in 2025 and additional detections in cats in the coastal departments of Maldonado and Rocha, which researchers say points to local circulation.
Doctors emphasize that “the infection is curable,” but timing matters because symptoms can show up weeks after a scratch and look like something else. The bigger challenge is the cat-to-human route, which can turn a handful of sick animals into a community-wide problem if wounds go unnoticed or untreated.
Why this isn’t the usual “rose gardener” infection
Sporotrichosis is often nicknamed “rose gardener’s disease” because many infections start when the fungus gets pushed under the skin through small cuts from plants or soil. That classic pattern still happens, but Uruguay’s new alert is centered on a species that uses cats as an efficient bridge to humans.
In a decades-long review of cases diagnosed in Uruguay, researchers documented 157 cases across 38 years and found that 128 were linked to armadillo scratches during hunting. That history suggests the country was largely dealing with sporadic, rural exposure, not the kind of pet-associated transmission that can move through neighborhoods.
Sporothrix brasiliensis changes the calculus because it has fueled large outbreaks in South America by spreading through contact with infected cats. The World Health Organization reports that in areas affected by this species in South America, mainly Brazil, more than 11,000 human cases have been reported in the past 10 years, and the U.S. CDC notes that infections with S. brasiliensis “tend to be more severe” than those caused by other Sporothrix species.
How cats amplify the risk
Why do cats spread this fungus so well? One reason is that infected cats often have obvious sores on the face, and they can also transfer the fungus to their claws and mouths during grooming.
Scratches and bites are the obvious hazards, but they are not the only ones. Uruguay’s Institute of Hygiene lists direct contact with wounds or secretions as a transmission route, and both the Institute and the CDC also warn that exposure can involve cat sneezes.
That mix of routes is why clinicians and veterinarians often frame this as a shared human-animal problem, not a “pet issue” or a “people issue.” The Uruguayan investigation initially looked at a family outbreak tied to adopting a street cat that came from Brazil, yet researchers also detected cases in cats without a direct link, suggesting the fungus may already have been circulating locally.
What it looks like on human skin
Most sporotrichosis infections stay in the skin, but they do not always start right away. The CDC says symptoms typically begin anywhere from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure, so a scratch that seemed minor can become a confusing story later.
A common pattern starts as a small red, purple, or pink bump that slowly enlarges and can turn into an open sore. Sometimes more bumps appear in a line as the infection tracks along lymphatic vessels, a classic pattern the WHO highlights for sporotrichosis.
Less commonly, sporotrichosis can involve the eye or lungs, and in rare cases it can spread to bones, joints, or the central nervous system. Disseminated disease is more likely in people with weakened immune systems, and Uruguayan researchers have warned that severe cases can be especially concerning for older adults and children under two.
Signs to watch for in cats
Cats can look mostly fine while carrying an infection that is risky for the humans who handle them. In its February 2026 notice, Uruguay’s Institute of Hygiene urged owners to pay close attention to wounds around a cat’s snout or ears, since those lesions can be an early clue.
In day-to-day life, this is the scenario that matters most. A cat with a stubborn sore is exactly the cat you might cuddle, treat at home, or wipe down after a sneeze, and those are the moments when scratches or contact with fluids can happen.
The CDC recommends avoiding contact with cats that have sores and bringing cats with signs of sporotrichosis to a veterinarian promptly, while also limiting interactions between domestic and feral cats. The WHO adds that early identification and treatment of infected cats is central to prevention, yet keeping up with months of treatment for animals can be difficult in many communities.
If you’ve been scratched, don’t ignore the calendar
Ever had a scratch during playtime that healed and disappeared from your mind? Sporotrichosis is one reason it can be worth paying attention for weeks afterward, because symptoms can take time to appear.
If a bump, ulcer, or a line of nodules appears near the scratch site, it is worth telling a clinician about the cat exposure, even if the injury happened a month or two ago. Diagnosis often involves examining material from a sore or sending a sample for culture or biopsy, and both the CDC and the WHO point to lab testing as the backbone of confirmation.
Treatment depends on how severe the infection is and where it has spread. The CDC says skin infections typically require several months of oral antifungal medication, while lung or disseminated disease can require at least a year, and the WHO notes that cat-acquired S. brasiliensis infections can require longer courses, such as three to four months.
In Uruguay and beyond, a little caution around cat wounds can go a long way toward protecting both pets and people.
The official statement was published on Instituto de Hygiene (UdelaR).
