A potentially deadly fungus is spreading across Tennessee, health officials warned.
More than 35 cases of histoplasmosis; lung infection Infectious diseases caused by exposure to the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum have been identified in the Murray and Williamson County areas within three months, according to numbers released Jan. 12 by the Tennessee Department of Health.
A family also published claims that a woman contracted histoplasmosis and died, and that she tested positive two days after her death. Field report.
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However, during a meeting with the Williamson County Commission, state epidemiologists said the investigation is ongoing. infectious disease The direct cause of the fatal accident has not yet been confirmed.
They also noted that the average age of those infected is 50 years old.
State officials say the fungus originates from soil contaminated with bird and bat droppings. People are exposed when they breathe. fungal spores. No single common source of infection has been identified in the Tennessee outbreak.
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In most cases, people don’t get sick, but histoplasmosis can cause respiratory symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of histoplasmosis — fever, cough, extreme fatigueheadaches, body aches, chills, and chest pain – usually appear within 3 to 17 days after exposure to the fungus.
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These symptoms are similar, so cold and fluthis condition is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
People with weak immune systems are at higher risk of developing the disease serious illnessAccording to the CDC, this can lead to long-term lung infections, or in rare cases, meningitis.
Most people do not require treatment, but antifungal drugs are used in severe cases. Some of the Tennessee patients are hospitalized, some in “critical condition,” state officials acknowledged at a news conference.
medical provider Infection can be confirmed by testing a blood or urine sample in a laboratory. Other possible testing methods include respiratory fluids, X-rays, CT scans, and tissue biopsies.
To prevent infection, health officials recommend limiting activity in areas where the soil is disturbed and considering wearing a mask during “high-risk” outdoor activities.
Before this outbreak, histoplasmosis was a “reportable disease” in just 14 states (Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington), according to the CDC.
Infection does not spread between people Unable to send From humans to animals.
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People who have symptoms and think they have been exposed to the Histoplasma fungus should contact their doctor for testing, especially if antibiotics do not work.
