Spores of a poisonous fungus drifted into a Wisconsin neighborhood, presumably spread by recent construction in the area, causing a rare infectious disease outbreak that killed one person. State health officials reported Friday in their weekly report of morbidity and mortality.
Overall, the outbreak cluster included 5 pet dogs and 4 people, with symptom onset spanning from October 2021 to February 2022. Five dogs were reported with mild to moderate cases.
Outbreak caused by poorly understood fungus Blast Mrs. (B. Dermatitis and B. Gilchristie), lurks in moist soil, decomposing organic matter such as trees and leaves, and is often near water. present throughout the eastern United States, but its distribution is uneven. Common in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys and around the Great Lakes. Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota are considered hotspots.
Blast Mrs. When disturbed or excavated, often by literal excavation, their presence is revealed and the spores soar into the air. When the spores are inhaled by humans or animals, they can cause an infection called blastomycosis. Blastomycosis is a non-contagious infection that may occur 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure. About half of those infected have no symptoms or adverse effects, but the other half may show signs of respiratory infection such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath. In immunocompromised people, smokers, and people with lung disease, if not aggressively treated with antifungal drugs, the infection continues to spread throughout the body and can be life-threatening. The course of treatment ranges from 6 months to 1 year, depending on severity.
In general, blastomycosis is rare in the United States. States reporting infections have about 1 or 2 cases per 100,000 people per year. However, some Wisconsin hotspots can reach incidence rates of 40 to 50 cases per 100,000 people per year. But strangely, the area where the new outbreak was reported was not considered one of those hot spots.
had a seizure Northwest County of St. Croix, Boardman’s unincorporated community, next small area willow riverflows into the St. Croix River. The entire region is located across from Minneapolis, near the Minnesota state line.
discovery of fungi
Typically, 1 to 5 cases of blastomycosis are reported annually in St. Croix. However, this particular area of the county has not seen a human case of blastomycosis for at least a decade, despite unofficial reports of dogs dying from the infection in 2021.
MWWR reports that in February 2022, a “sharp” veterinarian announced that four dogs had been diagnosed with blastomycosis in recent weeks, living within a mile radius near Willow River in Boardman. After being alerted, local health officials looked into surveillance data and identified two patients in the same small area. Authorities responded by sending letters to potential cluster residents. After the report, two other infections were confirmed.
It’s unclear exactly what caused the blaze Blast Mrs. However, an environmental assessment noted an unpaved boardwalk along the river and recent development in the area. “The construction in this neighborhood in the last decade may have dispersed Blast Mrs. Spores,” the author noted.
For those living in the affected areas, there is little they can do but be aware of the risk of fungus that is always present around their property. There are no commercially available tests to detect it. Blast Mrs. in the environment. And even if there were, environmental tests are basically useless.As the CDC notes, “If a soil sample tests positive, Blastomyces, It is not necessarily the source of infection, and even if the sample is negative, it does not necessarily mean that the fungus is not present in the soil.”
in St Croix, Officials advise residents Essentially, tread lightly: “Limiting activities that can disrupt soil and plants can reduce the risk of exposure,” notes the country. “High-risk” activities include “gardening, camping, hunting, hiking, riding all-terrain vehicles, clearing brush, or excavating and construction projects.” For pets, the county advised to “avoid activities such as sniffing or digging in soil near water, landscaped areas, or wooded terrain.”
