Category: fungal infection

Rare Fungus Found in Soil Leaves Wisconsin Woman Dead

Sonya Cruz of Kenosha, Wisconsin, died from an infection caused by blastomyces, a rare fungus that releases harmful and potentially deadly spores into the air when disturbed.  The fungus is most prevalent in damp, forested areas of the soil. Once the spores settle in the lungs, it can cause an infection called blastomycosis and develop…


Fungal Infections Kill Millions, Yet Few Effective Treatments Are Available

Most people think of a fungal infection as a yeast infection or athlete’s foot—they’re itchy and annoying but harmless and relatively easy to treat. However, there are various species of fungi lurking around the world, preying on people with weakened immune systems. Once these fungi enter the human body, they can resist standard antifungal drugs and often…


‘The Last of Us’: Pandemic Parallels Hit Close to Home

HBO Max series “The Last of Us” follows a grizzled man in an apocalyptic world. After a fungus outbreak has infected the world, fundamental freedoms are taken away while an overreaching bureaucracy searches for a cure. While “The Last of Us” is fiction, its depiction of real-world scenarios may be a lesson and a warning….


Fungal Outbreak Affects Over 90 Workers at Michigan Paper Mill

Nineteen confirmed cases of blastomycosis, a type of fungal infection, have been linked with a northern Michigan paper mill, with a further 74 people believed to be probable cases, according to local health authorities. Public health officials said on April 7 that both confirmed and probable cases are workers at Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill infected…


Candida: A Fungus We All Carry That Can Lead to Most Common Fungal Infections, Tips to Fight It

Candida albicans is a type of fungus that causes some of the most common fungal diseases. The drug-resistant strain has received a lot of attention, but the majority of cases are caused by the yeast’s more easily treated forms. Let’s look at what’s known about this disease, what it can do to us, and what can…