Duplin officials investigate Warsaw's fungal malady

[Guest guest]

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/9778newsstorypage.html

Duplin officials investigate Warsaw's fungal malady

By D'Abruzzo

Assistant Features Editor

March 9, 2002

Duplin County Health Director Harrelson didn't see this one coming.

Blastomycosis in Warsaw. Five residents infected within a 11/2-mile radius.

Questions from others wondering how they could prevent getting sick, too.

Over the past month, Mr. Harrelson has immersed himself in all things

related to blastomycosis - a rare fungal infection caused by inhaling spores

of a mold species known as blastomyces dermatitidis.

Among his findings: Over the past five years, there have been 162 hospital

admissions across North Carolina for blastomycosis.

" There's been no rhyme or reason, " Mr. Harrelson said of the areas in the

state where people have contracted the disease. " It's sporadic. North

Carolina is an endemic state. It's just that certain environmental

conditions cause the spores to be more prevalent. "

Why Warsaw, and why all of a sudden, are questions that are still being

investigated.

Last month, four Kenan High School students and an 81-year-old man who

lives near the school were diagnosed with blastomycosis. One of the students

and the man are still hospitalized, Mr. Harrelson said.

And after checking death records in the area, Duplin County health officials

discovered that a man died in May of the same fungal infection. Mr.

Harrelson said they've looked into other deaths from the past five years but

have found no other cases of blastomycosis as a cause.

In his research, Mr. Harrelson has talked with infectious disease doctors,

state epidemiologists and people in northwest Canada, which has been labeled

as an endemic area for blastomycosis.

What's frustrating for many is that there's little that can be done to

prevent contracting blastomycosis.

" If you're breathing in North Carolina, you're susceptible, " Mr. Harrelson

said.

The disease is caused by breathing in the fungus, but because blastomycosis

is endemic to eastern parts of the United States and parts of Canada and

Central America, it's unrealistic to " stay away " from those areas.

A number of factors may affect how one reacts to being exposed to the

fungus: the density of the spores inhaled and whether the person's immune

system is compromised. Once contracted, blastomycosis is not contagious.

People can be mildly affected by the fungus and recover without realizing

they have been exposed.

Not much can be done to prevent the disease, Mr. Harrelson said. The key is

early diagnosis.

D'Abruzzo: 343-2388

diana.dabruzzo@...