Guest guest Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 State warns of blastomycosis increase Fungal disease numbers up; reason unclear Wausau Daily Herald - Wausau,WI* By Amy Olson • Wausau Daily Herald • September 12, 2008 http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20080912/WDH0101/809120623/1981 State health officials issued a warning today advising Wisconsin residents to be on the lookout for an increasingly common and potentially fatal fungal infection. Cases of blastomycosis have increased in Wisconsin since 2003, though health officials are unsure why. The greatest numbers of cases have been reported in northern Wisconsin counties, said Marquis, a spokeswoman for the state's Department of Health Services. Between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, 428 cases were reported. Of those, 267 people were hospitalized. Thirty-one deaths associated with the disease also were reported during that period, Marquis said. Most of the people who died had other health conditions that could have weakened their immune systems, she said. The cases were not considered part of an outbreak, with the exception of 21 people who became ill in Lincoln County in 2006. It is unclear what factors are involved in the increase, Marquis said. Doctors could be more aware of the disease's presence and therefore are testing for and detecting blastomycosis more frequently. It's also possible more people have become sickened through exposure to the organism because the growing conditions have been just right. Scientists have struggled to figure out the conditions under which the fungus grows and releases spores, which can cause infection if inhaled or they somehow enter the skin. It can take 30 to 45 days after exposure for people to feel sick, said Terri Dums, infection prevention and control manager at Saint ph's Hospital in Marshfield. Unfortunately, there are no preventive measures people can take, beyond being aware of symptoms. " Blastomycosis may be misdiagnosed and treated as pneumonia, " said , state epidemiologist for communicable diseases. He advised people with persistent pneumonia-like symptoms that do not respond to antibiotics to talk with their doctors about getting tested for blastomycosis. Fortunately, antifungal medications often are effective at treating the illness, which is not contagious, Dums said. Greater awareness is helping physicians detect the disease, said Jeanine Bresnahan, infection control manager for Aspirus Wausau Hospital. The general public seems to be more aware, too, said Dr. , medical director for Marshfield Clinic's northern division. She recalled having three patients on ventilators one winter 15 years ago while battling the disease. " I think people are much more educated about blasto, " said, adding that more people are adept at recognizing the illness in dogs, which alerts them to the possibility of human exposure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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