A fungal outbreak in Tennessee has taken the life of one person and left 30 others seriously unwell.
Health officials have now issued a warning as they rush to identify the source of the illnesses, which have been caused by histoplasmosis infections.
Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus that can be found in bird and bat droppings, as per Mayo Clinic.
It is contracted when people breathe in spores, often during demolition or construction - for example, when soil is infected with droppings and then disrupted.
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While some people never get symptoms, it can be dangerous for infants and those with weakened immune systems.
Alyssia Brown passed away in December following a positive test for the infection, meanwhile, a 14-year-old, Eli Stinson, has endured a long battle with the bug since Halloween.
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"I think they drained half my blood it felt and nothing was coming back positive," Eli told Denver7.
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Meanwhile, mom Cari explained the breakthrough came when she was sent an article about the fungal infection.
"Instantly, I was like oh my gosh, I bet this is what he has," Cari said.
"All the tests came back positive.
"I felt like the crazy mom I kept calling, but I knew he had it.
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"I want people to know in Thompson's Station, especially around this June Lake area, if your kid is sick, this isn't a 7 to 10 day cold virus. It's a bigger deal.
"... Something is happening right now to have all these cases with outbreaks."
Histoplasmosis symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Dry cough
- Chest pain
- Tiredness
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Following the outbreaks, state health officials said, as per Denver7: "More than 30 histoplasmosis cases have been identified in Williamson & Maury Counties. The investigation is ongoing and a clear source of exposure has not been identified which is not uncommon for histoplasmosis.
"Histoplasmosis is commonly found throughout the soil in Tennessee, so it can be challenging to completely prevent exposure. People at highest risk of severe infection are those that are exposed to a large amount of spores and/or those with weakened immune systems. Individuals can reduce their potential exposure to histoplasmosis if they avoid activities that disturb the soil or increase exposure to plant matter or bird or bat droppings. This includes activities like cleaning chicken coops, exploring caves, cleaning, remodeling, or tearing down old buildings, landscaping or farming, and gardening or yardwork.
"If an individual feels that they are at high risk or want to mitigate their risk even further, they can consider wearing a protective mask like an N-95 while conducting higher risk activities."
Lucy Devine