Blastomycosis

Our guest for this week is Sara Olson.  Sara (her TikTok name is SKEEETAH) is from the Wolf River area of Wisconsin which just happens to hold the highest concentration of the fungus that causes Blastomycosis. When Sara got Blastomycosis in January 2024, she thought it was 'just the flu'.  With a chest xray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Several rounds of antibiotics didn't help so she did a CT scan where they found an embolism.  Still not knowing anything else, they continued treating her for bacterial pneumonia.  They did a swab of her sputum in which her health providers found no bacterial growth, but there was fungal growth.  "For some reason they didn't do fungal testing" she was admitted, released and readmitted all the while she was being treated for bacterial pneumonia.  The final hospitalization had her O2 levels drop to 30 and she was intubated, her family was called to come and say their goodbyes...  You'll have to listen to the interview to learn more.  She is lucky to be alive!

Blastomycosis is a fungal infection and was linked to the Little Wolf River in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, during a summer 2015 outbreak.  People who went tubing on the river were exposed to the fungus, with 59 confirmed and 39 probable cases reported according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (W-DHS). The fungus, Blastomyces, lives in soil and decaying organic matter, and its spores can become airborne when disturbed. Inhaling these spores can cause blastomycosis, a disease primarily affecting the lungs, though it can spread to other parts of the body. While most blastomycosis cases are sporadic, this outbreak highlighted the need for awareness about this preventable cause of illness. 

 

Key Details about the Outbreak:

• Cause: The outbreak was attributed to the fungus Blastomyces, which is commonly found in soil and decaying matter. 
   
• Exposure: People who participated in river tubing on the Little Wolf River were exposed to the fungus. 
   
• Symptoms: Blastomycosis can cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, muscle aches, and fatigue, but it can also lead to serious health problems if not treated. 
   
• Transmission: The infection is not spread from person to person. 
   
• Treatment: Blastomycosis can be treated with antifungal medications. 
   
• Outbreak Scale: This outbreak was one of the largest in recent Wisconsin history, with 59 confirmed and 39 probable cases. 
   
• Prevention: Awareness of the potential for infection is key, especially in areas where the fungus is known to be present. 
   

Additional Information:

• Endemic Area:

  Blastomycosis is endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes region, and the southeastern United States according to the CDC. 

   
• Symptoms:

  Common symptoms include cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue, and skin sores. 

   
• Risk Factors:

  Individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses may be more susceptible to severe illness. 

   
• Not Limited to the Wolf River:

  While the Little Wolf River outbreak was significant, blastomycosis can occur in other areas with suitable environmental conditions. 

Blastomyces lives in moist soil in parts of North America. It’s too small to see, so you can breathe it into your lungs without knowing it. There, it can grow and make you sick. It sometimes spreads to your skin or other parts of your body.

It’s hard to avoid breathing in Blastomyces fungus if you live in an area where it’s common. While not entirely preventable, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of blastomycosis:

• Avoid disturbing large areas of dirt and dust, especially in areas near water.
• If your job or hobbies expose you to soil that’s likely to contain Blastomyces, wear an N95 (or KN95) respirator mask to help filter the air you breathe.