The paper mill in Michigan, the center of a deadly mold outbreak believed to be the largest mold outbreak in U.S. history, reopened this week.
The Billerud facility in Escanaba, Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula, was closed for more than three weeks to clean and investigate the source of the cluster of cases.
In February, a massive outbreak of blastomycosis occurred at the factory. Since then, 115 cases, 14 hospitalizations and one death related to the infections have been confirmed.
The Swedish company that operates the company said no blastomyces spores were found in the mill, making it unclear how the outbreak happened.
The fungus lives mainly on most soils, on damp wood and along some waterways.
A Billerud paper mill in Escabana, Michigan (pictured) has reopened after being closed for three weeks because it was at the center of a deadly blastomycosis outbreak
The outbreak has been going on at the plant since late February, when the first cases were discovered. The mill was closed for a thorough cleaning and to check whether traces of the mold were present in the factory. No traces were found
Blastomyces is a fungus found in the eastern half of the United States. Usually, someone becomes infected after inhaling a spore, and person-to-person spread is rare.
“Following a thorough cleaning recommended by public health authorities and experts, the Escanaba plant has resumed operations as of May 8,” Billerub wrote on the plant’s website.
‘To date, no Blastomyces spores have been found in the mill. The health and safety of our employees and contractors remains our top priority and we are focused on a safe return to the factory.
“We continue to work closely with and follow the recommendations of local, state and federal health experts as they continue to investigate this dynamic situation.”
Billerud went on to say that they have found no traces at the mill and do not know the source.
“At this time, no Blastomyces spores have been found in the company’s Escanaba Mill and the investigation continues in collaboration with health authorities and experts,” it wrote.
“We still haven’t identified the source of the blastomyces. At this time, no Blastomyces spores have been found in the Escanaba Mill and research continues in collaboration with health authorities and experts.’
All infected individuals are employees, contractors or others who visited the facility before becoming ill.
Local officials first recognized the outbreak in March. Billerud says on its website that the company was made aware of the infection cluster on March 3.
On April 14, with 100 cases and 12 hospitalizations, Billerud opted to close the factory for a clean-up and to allow an investigation into the origins of the outbreak.
The first death related to the outbreak was also announced that day, in a contractor who was recently on site.
Last week, local officials reported six additional cases, bringing the overall total from 109 to 115. The total number of cases surpasses the previous largest blastomyces outbreak of 55 cases during an outbreak in Wisconsin in 2010.
It often takes two to 15 weeks between exposure to the fungus and a person feeling symptoms.
This means that people who get sick now may have been exposed to the disease months ago and some cases could still occur after the factory reopens.
Gerald Kell, who heads the United Steelworkers Union representing workers at the plant, said some workers needed hospital care for weeks.
Jamie Dier, vice president of the union, told DailyMail.com that those who had become seriously ill “couldn’t breathe” and were “coughing up blood or phlegm.”
Their lungs fill with nodules [of the fungus],” he said, “there are fungal masses on their lungs that prevent them from breathing.”
Mr Dier said he had to battle a six-week infection with the fungus that left him short of breath and fungal nodules in his lungs, but he has since recovered.
Paper produced by the factory is used in magazines and pamphlets, workers say.
Blastomycosis can cause symptoms similar to a cold in the early stages, but the fungus can then spread to other parts of the body and cause more serious illness (file photo)
Blastomyces is a fungus that lurks in moist soil and leaf litter in the eastern half of the United States.
Humans can inhale its spores, which can infect the lungs and cause a ‘cold’ illness with symptoms such as cough, fever and chest pain.
In severe cases, the fungus spreads from the lungs to other organs, including the muscles, bones, and brain.
The disease has a death rate of about one in 100 patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Medications are available to treat the condition, including antifungal drugs — such as itraconazole — which work by disrupting the wall of fungal cells, causing cell leakage and eventually death.
However, those taking these drugs may need to continue taking them for a year to clear the infection.