Topic: deadly fungus spreading in US, Canada

[Mikeyboy]

Something for our west coasts guys to watch out for.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22129903.htm

Potentially deadly fungus spreading in US, Canada 22 Apr 2010 22:21:58 GMT
Source: Reuters
 * Fungus is unique genetic strain

* Climate change may aid its spread

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - A potentially deadly strain of fungus is spreading among animals and people in the northwestern United States and the Canadian province of British Columbia, researchers reported on Thursday.

The airborne fungus, called Cryptococcus gattii, usually only infects transplant and AIDS patients and people with otherwise compromised immune systems, but the new strain is genetically different, the researchers said.

"This novel fungus is worrisome because it appears to be a threat to otherwise healthy people," said Edmond Byrnes of Duke University in North Carolina, who led the study.

"The findings presented here document that the outbreak of C. gattii in Western North America is continuing to expand throughout this temperate region," the researchers said in their report, published in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Pathogens at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1000850.

"Our findings suggest further expansion into neighboring regions is likely to occur and aim to increase disease awareness in the region."

The new strain appears to be unusually deadly, with a mortality rate of about 25 percent among the 21 U.S. cases analyzed, they said.

"From 1999 through 2003, the cases were largely restricted to Vancouver Island," the report reads.

"Between 2003 and 2006, the outbreak expanded into neighboring mainland British Columbia and then into Washington and Oregon from 2005 to 2009. Based on this historical trajectory of expansion, the outbreak may continue to expand into the neighboring region of Northern California, and possibly further."

The spore-forming fungus can cause symptoms in people and animals two weeks or more after exposure. They include a cough that lasts for weeks, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, fever, nighttime sweats and weight loss.

It has also turned up in cats, dogs, an alpaca and a sheep.

Freezing can kill the fungus and climate change may be helping it spread, the researchers said.

[mohctep]

Very informative website.
Thanks!

[Brewguy]

This might truely be a serious problem.  However I can't help seeing Swine flu painted all over it.  Seems like the exact same fear they tried to push with that. 

Next thing you know there will be a vaccine or something you have to take to stay healthy, threats of quarantine and so on.

[murph50]

I agree brewguy
 I'm not worried about no fungus--just stock up on some athletes foot powder.
 Looks like this started up in Canada--makes me have to wonder what some Canadian redneck was plookin' up there.
BTW anybody know --what caliber for fungi?
 

This is a little curious and I see they mention climate change. Could things like this be a result of climate change and is this just the tip of the iceberg?
 A few years ago, biologists up in New England began to see a major die off in the bat populations. Many of the dead had white stuff on their nose which they now know is a fungus. The name for it is "white nosed syndrome" and it has devastated bat populations all over New England and has now spread down the east coast and is heading west. It was just discovered in a cave in a Nat Park in Tenn.
 My mom sent me an article from a New Jersey newspaper last week and the article said that there are very few if any bats left in Jersey. Man --gonna be some bad mosquito problems there.
 Stuff like this could really be bad. At this point they have no idea how to stop this in the bats and of course if bats are gone we would be pretty screwed.
 Yea--it's the enemies that you can't see that really get ya

[Fenix]

BTW anybody know --what caliber for fungi?
 

For fungi you will be requiring one of these:


Studies have shown its effectiveness increases when used while also shouting "KILL IT WITH FIRE!"  

[NoGoyGunBoy]

I'd posted this in the Medicine Bag: http://www.neardeathexperiments.com/smf/index.php?topic=4950.0

This might truely be a serious problem.  However I can't help seeing Swine flu painted all over it.  Seems like the exact same fear they tried to push with that.  ext thing you know there will be a vaccine or something you have to take to stay healthy, threats of quarantine and so on.

No, a fungal infection is much, much worse.  There are no fungal vaccines that I'm aware of. 

 

he spore-forming fungus can cause symptoms in people and animals two weeks or more after exposure. They include a cough that lasts for weeks, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, fever, nighttime sweats and weight loss.

It has also turned up in cats, dogs, an alpaca and a sheep.

 

Given how long it takes to start showing symptoms--symptoms which look just like flu or a cold--and given the difficulty of treating internal fungal infections, and given that it spreads by spores, which can sit dormant for decades?  I feel no shame in stating that this scares the crap out of me. 

[inh]

Sheeple: Start inhaling athletes foot spray. If you feel funny, it's working!

LMI: Oooohhh crap! This don't sound good. Maybe the duct tape and rolls of plastic sheeting weren't such a bad idea. Fungi like moist and dark right? Maybe some dehumidifiers wouldn't be a bad idea?

[NoGoyGunBoy]

BTW anybody know --what caliber for fungi?

Caliber doesn't matter, as long as you use hollowpoints.  Because, on impact, they mushroom.     

[inh]

Caliber doesn't matter, as long as you use hollowpoints.  Because, on impact, they mushroom.     

NICE!

[Mikeyboy]

Update: 15 US deaths according to CDC

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20100722/US.MED.Deadly.Fungus/

CDC: 15 US deaths tied to rare tropical fungus
ATLANTA — U.S. health officials say a fungus usually found in the tropics has taken root in the Pacific Northwest and has been blamed for at least 60 illnesses and 15 deaths.

The fungal illness is still considered rare. But an increasing number of people who have breathed it in have become sick or died. Symptoms include a persistent cough, headache and fever.

The fungus seems to grow on or around trees. Over the last six years, health officials have tracked 43 cases in Oregon, 15 in Washington, one in California and one in Idaho.

The tally was reported Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC Report
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/