Fatal Tropical Fungus Moves Into The Borders Of Whatcom County From Canada

Bellingham, Washington (AHN) - A tropical fungus has State Health officials concerned after it was apparently carried across county lines and caused the death of at least four people.

According to Health officials, the fungus is called Cryptococcus gattii and has contaminated more than 100 people in the past six years in British Columbia and just recently made its presence felt across the border in Whatcom County.

The fungus is invisible to the naked eye and found mostly in trees and soil, has infected at least four residents this year, two of them fatally, county health officer Greg Stern said.

Cryptococcus gattii is found in trees and soil and usually infects people with weakened immune systems.

Reports said that two people have died in Whatcom County and eight in British Columbia.

Health officials have raised concerns about the fungus because of the potential for a large number of people to be contaminated because of their exposure to woods and other outdoor areas.

Kiro TV said that until now scientists haven't found solutions to solve or even lessen the danger of getting the disease.

It was learned that this fungus affect people whose immune system is weak.

Health official noted the case of a 16-year-old girl from Blaine who first complained of difficulty in breathing. She had felt much better after she was given an anti-fungal medication.

The said infection regularly starts in the lungs but can also increase to the brain and develop into fatal meningitis.

The fungus was believed to be largely confined to the tropics until 2001 when eight people were reported to have died in British Columbia due to the infection.

Since that case was reported on other areas in British Columbia had been condoned from the public because of the fungus.