Ninety-seven confirmed or probable cases of blastomycosis have been identified in Michigan’s Delta and Menominee counties, according to the local health department, and are believed to be associated with a paper mill in the city of ‘Escanaba. One death has been linked to the Outbreak: An entrepreneur who until recently worked at the Escanaba Billerud paper mill died of blastomycosis. “Everyone in 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 that person, their family, co-workers and friends in our thoughts and close to our hearts.” Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus, Blastomyces, which lives in environment, especially in moist soil and decaying material like wood or leaves, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention It is found primarily in the Midwest and South, especially around the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and Great Lakes There are only one or two cases per 100,000 people each year in states where blastomycosis is a reportable disease, according to the CDC Analysis found 1,216 deaths linked to the disease from 1990 to 2010. People can breathe in these microscopic fungal spores, and while most don’t get sick, some will develop symptoms like fever or cough between three weeks and three months later. , says the CDC. Other symptoms may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, 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 of the lungs to places like the skin, bones, brain, and spinal cord. Blastomycosis is not transmitted from person to person. It is treated with antifungal medications which must be taken for a period ranging from six months to a year, depending on the severity of the disease and the general state of health of the person. Twenty-one of the mill-related cases were confirmed by culture or microscope. , 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 were hospitalized. All of the cases are either employees, contractors or visitors to the plant, officials said. , proactive measures 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 idling” of the Escanaba plant for additional cleaning.
According to local health departmentand they are thought to be associated with a paper mill in the town of Escanaba.
One death has been associated with the outbreak: an entrepreneur who until recently worked at the Escanaba Billerud paper mill died of blastomycosis.
“We were saddened to hear this news. Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the family, friends and colleagues who have lost loved ones,” County Health Officer Michael Snyder said in A press release.
“Everyone at Billerud is deeply saddened by this news,” said Brian Peterson, vice president of operations for Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill. “Everyone who works at our facility is part of our team, and we keep that person, their family, colleagues and friends in our thoughts and close to our hearts.”
Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus, Blastomyces, that lives in the environment, especially in moist soil and decaying material like wood or leaves, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is found primarily in the Midwest and South, especially around the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the Great Lakes.
There are only one or two cases per 100,000 people each year in states where blastomycosis is a reportable disease, according to the CDC. An analysis revealed 1,216 deaths linked to the disease from 1990 to 2010.
People can breathe in these microscopic fungal spores, and while most don’t get sick, some will develop symptoms like fever or cough between three weeks and three months later, according to the CDC. Other symptoms may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, 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 of the lungs to places like the skin, bones, brain, and spinal cord.
Blastomycosis is not transmitted from person to person. It is treated with antifungal medications which must be taken for a period ranging from six months to a year, depending on the severity of the disease and the general state of health of the person.
Twenty-one of the mill-related cases were confirmed by culture or microscope, and the remaining 76 are probable, meaning the person had symptoms of blastomycosis and a positive antigen or antibody test, the official said. health department. Twelve people were hospitalized. All of the cases are either employees, contractors or visitors to the plant, officials 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 health and government officials and implementing numerous proactive measures to protect the health and the safety of our employees, contractors and visitors,” Peterson said in a health department statement.
On Thursday, the company announced the “temporary idling” of the Escanaba plant for additional cleaning.