CNN
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Ninety-seven confirmed or probable cases of blastomycosis have been identified in Delta and Menominee counties in Michigan, according to the local health departmentand are believed to be associated with a paper mill in the city of Escanaba.
One death has been associated with the outbreak: a contractor who worked at the Escanaba Billerud paper mill until he recently died of blastomycosis.
“We were saddened to hear this news. Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers who have lost a loved one,” said Michael Snyder, county health officer, in a news release.
“Everyone at Billerud is deeply saddened by this news,” said Brian Peterson, vice president of operations for Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill. “Anyone who works at our facility is part of our team, and we keep this person, their family, co-workers and friends in our thoughts and close to our hearts.”
Blastomycosis It is caused by a fungus, Blastomyces, that lives in the environment, especially in moist soil and decaying matter like wood or leaves, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is found predominantly in the Middle West and South, particularly around the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Great Lakes.
According to the CDC, there are only one to two cases per 100,000 people each year in states where blastomycosis is a notifiable condition. One analysis found 1,216 deaths related to the disease between 1990 and 2010.
People can breathe in these microscopic fungal spores, and while most won’t get sick, some will develop symptoms like fever or cough three weeks to three months later, the CDC says. Other symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and muscle or joint pain, according to Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties. In rare cases, the infection can spread outside the lungs to places such as the skin, bones, brain, and spinal cord.
Blastomycosis is not spread from person to person. It is treated with antifungal medications that must be taken for a period of six months to a year, depending on the severity of the disease and the person’s general health.
Twenty-one of the cases linked to the mill have been confirmed by culture or microscopy, and the other 76 are probable, meaning the person had symptoms of blastomycosis and a positive antigen or antibody test, the health department said. Twelve people have been hospitalized. All the cases are employees, contractors or visitors to the plant, authorities said.
“Although the source of the infection has not been established, we continue to take this matter very seriously and are following the recommendations of government and health officials and implementing numerous proactive steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, contractors and visitors. ”. Peterson said in a statement from the health department.
On Thursday, the company announced the “temporary stoppage” of the Escanaba plant for additional cleaning.