# A mystery kidney disease reaches Texas workers

> Young outdoor workers in Texas are showing kidney failure that looks like outbreaks seen in hot farming regions worldwide.
- Title: A mystery kidney disease reaches Texas workers · New York Post
- Summary: Young outdoor workers in Texas are showing kidney failure that looks like outbreaks seen in hot farming regions worldwide. Heat, dehydration, hard outdoor…
- Keywords: health, kidneys, texas, labor, heat, news, entertainment, mystery, kidney, disease, reaches, workers
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/health/mysterious-disease-sending-young-healthy-texas-workers-into-kidney-failure
- Published: 2026-09-15T19:26:51+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: health, kidneys, texas, labor, heat, news, entertainment
## A disease appears in Texas
A kidney illness seen in Central America and South Asia now appears to be surfacing among young and middle aged workers in Texas.
## No usual warning signs
CKDu causes kidney failure in people who often lack the common risks, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney inflammation.

> some otherwise healthy adults develop kidney failure
## A global pattern
Similar regional kidney diseases have been tracked in Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Mexico, and Central America for decades.
## Texas cases look familiar
Houston hospitals have treated healthy men in their 20s and 30s with kidney failure, including some with dark, cola colored urine.

> What’s striking about the Texas cases is how closely they mirror what we saw originally in Central America
## Hot jobs raise concern
Many patients are undocumented workers from Mexico and Central America in construction, roofing, and outdoor trades where heat and limited breaks are common.
## Hard to count
Some workers avoid hospitals or research because of immigration fears. That makes early detection harder and lets kidney damage progress unseen.
## Symptoms come late
CKDu is often silent at first. Later signs can include fatigue, sleep problems, nausea, weakness, anemia, and shortness of breath.

> Later, it can cause typical signs of severe chronic kidney disease
## Heat is a suspect
Researchers suspect repeated heat stress and dehydration, possibly mixed with pesticides, smoke, unsafe water, and NSAID use, can strain the kidneys over time.
## Screening may save time
There is no specific CKDu test or treatment. Doctors rule out other causes, protect the kidneys, and use dialysis or transplant in advanced cases.

> A simple blood test for creatinine and a urine test for protein can catch early changes
## Key takeaway

Heat, dehydration, hard outdoor labor, and delayed screening may be putting young workers at risk before symptoms appear.