Re: Resident investigates blasto spores in trees

[Guest guest]

How can you get tested for blastomycoses? That sounds like something I got

in my old apt. but which

they never figured out what it was.

Does it ever go away by itself?

On 11/6/07, tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

>

> Resident investigates blasto spores in trees

> Middle Lake resident Evenden is warning people to stay away

> from blue trees.

>

> By Mike Aiken

> Miner and News-Kenora,Ontario,Canada*

> Monday November 05, 2007

>

> http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/News/351586.html

>

> Middle Lake resident Evenden is warning people to stay away

> from blue trees.

> She recently found blasto spores above ground on her property while

> clearing brush, and she's had samples tested at a lab to confirm her

> fears.

> " None of these specimens came from soil samples. One of the samples

> that tested positive for blastomyces dermatitidis was a twig taken

> from part way up a tree that was covered in the bluish substance.

> The other sample was taken from a growth on the ground. The ground

> in the area was covered in the same substance as were the tree

> trunks extending as much as three or four feet up the trunk, " she

> wrote for her on-line blog.

> According to the Northwestern Health Unit, blastomycosis may seem

> like the " flu " with cough, muscle aches, joint pain, tiredness,

> chills and fever. The health unit's information sheet on blasto says

> symptoms may develop suddenly, days to weeks after exposure to the

> fungus. In some people, the symptoms can go away naturally but

> others may develop a persistent cough with yellow or green spit.

> This may be the first sign of pneumonia.

>

> A blastomycosis infection usually starts in the lungs but sometimes

> it can cause a skin infection. This will look like red pimples,

> which can develop crusts or ulcers, on the face or other exposed

> skin.

> The health unit information continues to say, " the fungus is in the

> soil. Construction, digging or gardening may cause the fungal spores

> to be carried into the air and inhaled. You can only get

> blastomycosis from the fungus that is in the soil or the fungus

> spores in the air. You cannot get it from another person or an

> animal. "

> Kenora has been the focus of attention in recent months as there

> seem to be a sharp increase in cases. The disease can also be fatal

> for pets, who contract it while sniffing the ground outdoors.

> Evenden said over the weekend she has brought her findings to the

> attention of the Northwestern Health Unit, as well as the Lake of

> the Woods District Hospital.

> The director of environmental health for the health unit, Bill

> Limerick, acknowledged blastomycosis spores are found in the area,

> sometimes above ground, so it's not possible for staff to try and

> identify all the areas where they're found.

> " You can't go and put signs up that this is a blasto area, " he said

> Monday. " It's there. It's part of our environment. "

> Limerick encouraged those seeking more information to look up their

> web site. Residents who suspect they may have symptoms are

> encouraged to check with their physician, he added.

>

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