Potentially Lethal tropical fungus spreading in northwest

[responsiblek9]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186527.php

Potentially Lethal Airborne Fungus Spreading In US‎ -

Potentially Lethal Airborne Fungus Spreading In US
 Featured Article
Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Public Health;  Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 23 Apr 2010 - 10:00 PDT


A US-led research team has reported that a newly discovered strain of an airborne fungus more commonly found in the tropics, has killed several people in Oregon and is set to spread among humans and animals, progressing from the Pacific Northwest towards California.

When animals become infected they usually get a runny nose, have problems breathing, experience nervous system problems and get raised bumps under their skin.

Byrnes said they found the new virulent or Oregon strain in many types of animal, including domesticated ones like cats, dogs, alpaca and sheep. Most of the animals involved are not migratory, he said, suggesting that the fungus has not spread by animals migrating from one region to another.

[BlindMag]

THAT sounds very bad!!! 

[kaika_dragon]

I heard this on the radio today, too.  Doesn't it take extremely powerful antibiotics to even touch the thing, too?
Bad about sums it up.

[responsiblek9]

 :trx:Well antibiotics might take care of a secondary bacterial infection but more than likely to keep it from progressing probably have to give them an antifungal drug of some kind. This one sounds tough to diagnose whether it is the dangerous or the garden variety fungus. Especially with them having to look for a DNA marker. 

[BlindMag]

I hope they are able to identify, find a treatment for this and contain it, sounds very scary.