Rare Fungal Outbreak Leaves Dozens Sick at Paper Mill in Michigan; What Causes the Spread of Infection?

A rare fungal outbreak has made at least 19 employees of a paper mill in Michigan sick, while there are over 70 employees who are likely infected by the condition.

Rare Fungal Outbreak

Live Science reports that the Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM) received the first notice of this rare fungal outbreak during the latter parts of February 2023. They were informed that there were 15 unusual cases of pneumonia among Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill employees.

Symptoms started showing up last January and February. Earlier evaluations showed that these employees may have had blastomycosis, which is a fungal infection caused by a fungus belonging to the Blastomyces genus.

According to KCRA, this fungus typically dwells in the environment, especially in decomposing matter or wet soil. It can be spotted mostly across the South and Midwest. More specifically, the fungus is dominant in the Great Lakes and in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

The CDC notes that, in states where the infection is reportable, there are around one to two cases out of 100,000 people of blastomycosis each year. This goes to show how rare the condition is.

Despite how rare it is, Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) is known to be a risk area for the infection to thrive.

Following the reported cases, investigations were launched. Outbreak investigators from esteemed institutions, including the CDC, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), and MDHHS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services), inspected the paper mill themselves.

Based on April 7 records, there are 19 confirmed blastomycosis cases and 74 probable cases. The confirmed patients exhibited the condition's symptoms, and their specimens grew the fungus when they were cultured in a lab setting. The individuals with probable cases, on the other hand, also exhibited symptoms and had positive tests for the antigen.

To date, investigators are not sure where the fungus came from. Nevertheless, according to Brian Peterson, the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill's operations vice president, they are taking this matter seriously and are following the recommendations of authorities. This was noted in an update on April 7. The update, however, did not relay if there were adjustments in the paper mill's operations.

Blastomycosis: What Causes the Spread of Infection?

Blastomycosis is usually transmitted by inhaling fungal spores from the air. However, according to the CDC, most people who inhale these spores do not end up sick.

While this may depend on the person's immunity and the severity of the infection, the condition can be handled with antifungal treatments. It may take six months to a year to treat the condition.

Patients with the condition typically exhibit cough, fever, and muscle aches. In rare and extreme cases, the infection can take a messier turn and spread from the lungs all the way to other organs. The infection may reach the brain, bones, and skin. Such cases tend to happen among patients with weaker immunity.

Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.