California wildfires could make 'The Last of Us' a REALITY

California wildfires could make 'The Last of Us ' a reality, experts say.

Wildfires could spread deadly fungal spores beyond their natural habitats.

Fungi typically get into your body through a mucus membrane, for instance by inhaling mould spores.

But when wildfires send vast plumes of smoke into the air, these whip up spores and carry them over populated areas.

Those spores are then inhaled by anyone caught in the cloud where they settle in the lungs and cause infections.

Dr Martin Hoenigl , an expert on fungal pathogens from the Medical University of Graz , said: 'There is definitely a possibility that fungi may cause a pandemic'.

The disease could be established in 17 states by the end of the century , leading to a further 50 per cent increase in cases.

This threat is made even more potent by the features of fungi's unique survival powers.

Fungi melanin, a pigment produced in response to heat, also offers fungi protection against acids, heavy metals, UV radiation, and radioactive waste.

To make matters worse, higher temperatures increase the rate at which fungi pick up mutations, making it more likely that they will develop resistance to anti-fungal treatments.