Abstract:Cryptococcus gattii infection has the potential to cause a significant outbreak. Over the past 10 years, the incidence of Cryptococcus gattii infection in Vancouver Island, Canada has been significantly higher than that observed in other areas throughout the world. During this outbreak, most patients were immunocompetent. Cryptococcus gattii has been reported to disperse to adjacent areas. In this paper , the mechanisms responsible for outbreaks of Cryptococcus gattii infection, including molecular typing analysis,possible origin, virulence factors, and dispersal mechanisms of the pathogen are reviewed.