Digital News Report – There is a potentially fatal fungus that is spreading into California. The fungal infection originated from British Columbia and has been traveling south throughout the Pacific Northwest. The fungal infection can also infect animals as well.
There have been a total of 220 people diagnosed with the Cryptococcus gattii fungal infection over the last 11 years in British Columbia. In 2004 there was around 50 cases in Washington and Oregon states. Out of the 270 fungal infections, there was 40 people that have died from the infection.
The infection isn’t contagious from person to person. This fungal infection was typically found in tropical and subtropical areas, and hasn’t been seen so far north before. This could be related to the
changing climates.
The infection can occur when a person breaths in the really tiny spores that are traveling in the air. It can cause a brain or lung infection that can be deadly.
There is long time of incubation. It can take up to six months before symptoms of the infections occur. Most of the infections have been with people ranging in age from 15 to 95. There have not been many children with the infection.
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I have a son of 15 who is to start school in British Colombia in the Fall of 2010. Any vaccine available against the fungus?