ESCANABA (WWJ) - Six weeks after a fungal outbreak was discovered in workers at an Upper Peninsula paper mill, public health authorities announced Friday evening that one person has died of the infection.
The Public Health of Delta & Menominee Counties confirmed the fatality, saying a contractor at the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill passed away after complications with blastomycosis.
“We were saddened to hear this news. Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers who have lost their loved one,” PHDM Health Officer Michael Snyder said in a prepared statement.
The worker's death was announced a little more than 24 hours after Billerud, a Sweden-based pulp and paper manufacturer, said they were temporarily suspending operations at the Escanaba mill for three weeks to allow for additional cleaning of the factory as recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.
“Everyone at Billerud is deeply saddened by the news,” Brian Peterson, operations vice president for the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill said in a statement. “Anyone who works at our facility is part of our team, and we are keeping this individual, their family, coworkers and friends in our thoughts and close to our hearts.”
The company was first notified of the outbreak on March 3rd, after a local hospital reached out to public health officials about several atypical cases of pneumonia affecting people who were all associated with the mill.
Following a series of tests, PHDM officials confirmed that a number of the infections were caused by blastomycosis, a disease associated with a fungus that grows in moist soil and decomposing matter, such as wood and leaves.
"People are infected by directly breathing in the fungal spores, meaning it cannot spread from person to person," officials said.
According to the public health department, the U.P. is a known risk area for blastomycosis infection, although there has never been an industrial outbreak of this nature documented anywhere in the U.S.
To date, there have been 21 confirmed cases of blastomycosis identified while 76 people have been classified as probable cases. Twelve out of the 97 total cases have been hospitalized, authorities said.
In all 97 cases, officials determined those affected were employees, contractors or visitors of the Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba.
Those infected with blastomycosis can develop symptoms such as cough (sometimes with blood), fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, muscle aches, and joint pain.
Health officials urged anyone experiencing these symptoms to contact their healthcare provider immediately.
"Blastomycosis is treatable with anti-fungal medicines, but it is important to get diagnosed early," PHDM explained.
Depending on the severity of the infection and the person’s immune status, treatment can range from six months to one year.