A fungal disease outbreak affecting over 160 people at Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan, has left investigators uncertain about the source of the contamination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that nearly 20% of mill workers contracted the disease between November 2022 and May 2023.
The outbreak was declared over on July 1, 2023, with no additional cases reported among mill workers since then. Blastomycosis is a fungal disease caused by inhaling spores from blastomyces that thrive in moist environments like soil, wood, and decaying matter.
Most people exposed to the fungus do not get sick, but severe pulmonary illness can occur, leading to high hospitalization rates. Symptoms include coughing, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and fatigue.
The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated the outbreak and found that ventilation systems may have played a role in the exposure. However, environmental sampling failed to detect any Blastomyces spores.
The report recommends increased worker training and education on potential fungal exposure, as well as routine HVAC maintenance and regular inspections. The company has already taken steps to deep clean and inspect the plant, but the specific source of the outbreak remains unknown.
Source: https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/01/investigators-fail-to-find-source-of-fungal-outbreak-at-michigan-paper-mill.html