UPDATE: Fungus Not Health Threat In Winston-Salem Condos

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UPDATE: Fungus Not Health Threat In Winston-Salem Condos

WFMY News 2 - Greensboro,NC*

Posted by: Rhonda 10/2/2008

http://www.digtriad.com/news/health/article.aspx?

storyid=111572 & catid=8

Winston-Salem, NC -- UPDATE: An independent expert confirmed

Thursday that a fungus sample from One Park Vista in Winston-Salem

is not a health threat. The Fungus Testing Laboratory of the Dept.

of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San

announced that the sample in question is not the potentially

hazardous fungus suspected by a local lab. Based upon these

findings, the local lab immediately ruled out the suspected fungus

as well.

The Greensboro consultant coordinating the testing said in a

communication to the partnership, ?I can recommend that the building

be re-opened immediately for all activities.? The Environmental

Solutions Group consultant works for the building?s construction

company and also said, ?We can all breathe a huge sigh of relief on

behalf of (those) concerned about the safety of One Park Vista.? He

provided reports from the labs ruling out R. mackenziei, an

exceptionally rare fungus that poses a serious health threat.

The laboratories will continue to work identify the precise fungus

but the consultant said the possibilities remaining are non-

pathogenic; not a health threat.

Upon receiving this information around lunchtime today One Park

Vista executives began informing residents and others associated

with the building that it is safe.

The company first learned of the fungus threat Friday September 26.

While it appeared highly unlikely that the rare fungus was present

in the building, One Park Vista officials, working out of an

abundance of caution, personally alerted residents that same day and

urged them to leave until the threat could be ruled out. It has. One

Park Vista executive Kerry Avant said, ?We are relieved and intend

to resume business as usual.?

Background:

Contractors of a new condominium complex in downtown Winston-Salem

are saying they believe an exceptionally rare fungus was found in

their building.

Friday, September 26th officials with One Park Vista condominiums

contacted residents recommending that they temporarily move out

after finding Ramichloridium obovoideum.

The fungus is reported to grow only in the Middle East and there is

no record of anyone in the United States being exposed to it.

Even though only one culture of the fungus was found out of more

than 135 samples takenearlier this month, condo officials say they

wanted to be adundantly cautious.

A national microbiology expert examined a sample and is nearly

certain it's not the fungus in question.

The samples have been sent to two labs for independent testing.

Final results will be available by the end of the week.

One Park Vista, located between 3rd and 4th Streets, opened in

August. It's an eight story building with 32 luxury condos and a

restaurant.