Dozens sickened as potentially deadly fungus spreads in southern state

A perchance deadly fungus has been spreading passim Tennessee, wellness officials person warned.

Over 35 cases of histoplasmosis, a lung corruption caused by vulnerability to the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, person been confirmed successful a three-month play successful the Murray and Williamson County area, according to numbers presented connected Jan. 12 by the Tennessee Department of Health.

A household has besides spoken retired with claims that 1 pistillate died aft contracting histoplasmosis, with a affirmative trial effect returned 2 days aft her death, according to a section report.

DEADLY 'SUPERBUG' IS SPREADING ACROSS US AS DRUG RESISTANCE GROWS, RESEARCHERS WARN

However, during a briefing astatine the Williamson County Board of Commissioners, authorities epidemiologists said an probe is underway and that the corruption has not yet been confirmed arsenic the nonstop origin of immoderate fatalities.

They besides noted that the mean property of those infected is 50.

Histoplasmosis is simply a lung corruption caused by vulnerability to the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. (iStock)

The fungus comes from ungraded that is contaminated with vertebrate oregon bat droppings, according to authorities officials. People are exposed erstwhile they respire successful the fungal spores. A azygous communal root has not been identified successful the Tennessee outbreak.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

In astir cases, radical don’t get sick, but determination is the imaginable for histoplasmosis to origin respiratory symptoms, ranging from mild to life-threatening, per the CDC. 

Symptoms of histoplasmosis — which tin see fever, cough, utmost fatigue, headache, assemblage aches, chills and thorax symptom — typically look wrong 3 to 17 days aft vulnerability to the fungus.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Because these symptoms are akin to the acold and flu, the information is often missed oregon misdiagnosed.

People with anemic immune systems are astatine a higher hazard of processing terrible illness, which tin pb to a semipermanent lung corruption or, successful uncommon cases, meningitis, per the CDC.

While astir radical bash not necessitate treatment, determination are antifungal medications for terrible cases. Some of the Tennessee patients person been hospitalized and immoderate are "critically ill," the authorities officials confirmed during the briefing.

State officials confirmed determination person been 35 cases implicit a three-month play successful the Murray and Williamson County area. (iStock)

Healthcare providers tin corroborate the corruption by investigating humor oregon urine samples successful a lab. Other imaginable means of investigating whitethorn see respiratory fluid, X-rays, CT scans oregon a insubstantial biopsy.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

To forestall infection, wellness officials urge limiting activities wherever ungraded is disturbed and to see wearing masks during "high-risk" outdoor activities.

Healthcare providers tin corroborate the corruption by investigating humor oregon urine samples successful a lab. Other imaginable means of investigating whitethorn see respiratory fluid, X-rays, CT scans oregon a insubstantial biopsy. (iStock)

Before this outbreak, histoplasmosis was a "reportable disease" successful lone 14 states (Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Washington), according to the CDC.

The corruption does not dispersed betwixt humans and cannot beryllium transmitted from humans to animals.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Anyone who experiences symptoms and believes they person been exposed to the Histoplasma fungus should interaction a doc for testing, particularly if antibiotics are not helping.