WTF!!
A currently untreatable strain of fungus has claimed the lives of at least 23 people in California and the Pacific Northwest, researchers said Friday. The new strain, known as Cryptococcus Gattii, is an airborne fungus. It appears partial to Douglas Fir and Eucalyptus trees.
Cryptococcus Gattii usually only infects people with otherwise compromised immune systems, but the new strain is genetically different and appears to be a threat to otherwise healthy people, researchers said. The new strain appears to be unusually deadly with a mortality rate of about 25 percent. [Reuters] There are currently 200 people in the Pacific Northwest and California who are known to be infected.
The fungus has also turned up in cats, dogs and sheep.
Symptoms can appear as early as two weeks after exposure or take months to manifest. They include a cough that lasts for weeks, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, fever, nighttime sweats and weight loss. Worse still, the fungus can cross into the brain causing thinking abnormalities.
Currently, there is nothing people can do to protect themselves, researchers said.
This apparently is a new strain of a deadly tropical fungus that got to Oregon and mutated. Read this.
ummm, im alil scared… like airborn aids… but not
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Run for the hills!
These kind of dreadful infections creep me out; the whole idea of some *fungus* growing in my body… /shudder. Ugh.
Let Adam and his conspiracy theories begin.
I admit I had to look this one up. Seems there’s been a name change. Used to be called c. neoformans. Apparently they’ve settled on a permanent name now.
First off, 23 dead since 1999 does not sound like the plague to me. The researchers in the northwest say: “Our findings suggest that the opportunity for C. gattii
exposure in the areas studied has existed since the beginning of its emergence and that minimal spatial progression of risk areas has occurred over time. ” So it’s not spreading like wildfire.
Secondly, there are several specific treatments that, begin early enough, are likely to be effective even though the spore is resistant to them. I’ve got a “fire resistant” safe in my house. Chances are, you throw enough fire at it, my bonds will be worthless.
I strongly urge people not to get their medical information from National Geographic.
Not good! No vaccines available either and nothing in the pipeline shorty… I checked. It is claimed mortality rate of 25%, but does not state how the mortalities are classified. The question is if the most susceptibe are the old, very young or in general? In certain age groups I seem to recall the seasonal flu also have a high mortality ratio.
So, too little information her to make me go totally scared, even though this is admittedly something to seriously consider. Fungi are tricky organisms…
My apologies for quoting and not crediting.
http://bit.ly/ceOFso
Thanks Oregon.
Affecting sheep?
Clearly God is not happy with the Tea Party.
#4 TThor – it has nothing like a 25% mortality rate. Like most fungal respiratory illnesses, most patients will think they had a case of the flu and forget about it in a couple of weeks without treatment. IF they have any symptoms at all. The vast majority of people with a healthy immune system will react to infection within those parameters. The best research I could find (after an admittedly quick search on Medline) says that between 1999 and 2008 there were only 187 “confirmed” cases and there have been only 23 deaths ATTRIBUTED to the fungus.
#7 Dallas : You’re really getting to be quite a boor with the tea party nonsense.
Sarah Palin can see this fungus from her porch.
With the variety, mass, and adaptability of the micro world, I wonder if in a parallel universe life never rises above the one cell.
Bout a year ago there were several articles on kiddies getting flesh eating bacterial infections from swimming in creeks. I did that for years as a kiddie myself. Now with Global Warming, no more dirty water for me.
Can’t wait for bacteriophages to go mammalian.
We only have to worry if any of the dead return to life, with a craving for brains.
Like John McCain.
I always have thinking abnormalities.
#7 Hey Dallas…
Affecting Northern California?
Clearly God is not happy with the liberal moonbats.
#7–Hey Dallas…
I thought it was funny. Keep up the valuable social commentary and rise above the low minded squeals of your opponents. The only people “in Texas” that would disagree with you are the teabaggers themselves. Those not living in Texas think it is part of America.
#14 Bobbo = The Christian Taliban has made me grow some really thick skin over the years and as you know, I like satire.
#8 Sorry I’m unable to amuse you. All I did was to borrow Pat Robertson’s joke…. Oh wait, his wasn’t a joke 🙁
“Thinking abnormalities”. This explains what has happened in my town!
You can expect the fungus to appear anywhere it has hosts. They named the best known plant hosts but we aren’t that clear on animal hosts. Claims that it _can’t_ be transmitted by animal/human hosts are as always rather dubious. “Isn’t” or “we have no evidence of” might be right.
Unless they have don’t studies that prove the coughing hosts aren’t ejecting spores or hyphia that could infect others I take that _can’t_ with a ton of salt on the other hand it does appear most humans aren’t succeptable yet.
Somebody trying to start a panic.
I saw this movie…it’s called The Happening.
#18 GOD that movie sucked!!!
I was thinking more along the lines of The Blob
FUNGUS AMONG US!
Re# 20, …or …
Fungus, Cryptococcus Amungus
I remember the good ol’ days when I thought our biggest threat was a nuclear conflict with the former USSR. These bacterial, viral, and fungal über-cooties changed all that!
I’m sure conservatives are hoping this is a liberal disease.
If you got this fungus by flipping your TV to Fox News, they would demand the president spend billions on medical research.
#3 hey, sounds like it’s almost the MEXICAN FLU, Swine Flu…run for the hills.