According to an April 14 press release from Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties (PHDM), a contract worker at the Billrud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan, has died as a result of an ongoing mold outbreak that has infected nearly 100 workers with blastomycosis. has infected
“Everyone at Billerud is deeply saddened by this news,” Brian Peterson, Billerud’s vice president of operations for the Escanaba mill, said in the press release.
“Anyone who works at our facility is part of our team, and we are keeping this person, their family, colleagues and friends in our thoughts and close to our hearts.”
The mill has not released the identity of the worker.
Fungal outbreak in Michigan: About 100 paper mill workers may be infected
Blastomycosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces.
On February 28, PHDM was first informed Many pneumonia infections Among the mill workers
On March 3, Billrud learned of the infections from PHDM.
A contract worker at the Billrud Paper Mill in Escanaba, Michigan, has died from an ongoing fungal outbreak that may have infected as many as 100 workers with blastomycosis. The mill produces paper for magazines, catalogs, books and other products. (iStock)
As of April 14, there were 21 confirmed cases and 76 probable cases among mill workers, according to PHDM’s most recent update.
Out of 97 cases, 12 people have been hospitalized.
The mill is temporarily closed for deep cleaning
The announcement of the first casualty of the outbreak came a day after the mill announced it had halted operations for three weeks for a deep cleaning.
“Our top priority now and always will be to protect the health and safety of our employees and contractors who work at our Escanaba mill,” Bilrud president and CEO Christoph Michalski said in a company press release.
A Michigan paper mill shut down after 21 workers contracted fungal infections
“We care deeply about their well-being and are doing everything we can to protect them and to identify and address the root cause of blastomycosis fungal infections.”
“Everyone at Billerud is deeply saddened by this news.”
“As a precautionary measure, we will temporarily idle the Escanaba mill for three weeks to facilitate additional proper cleanup based on NIOSH recommendations. [the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] and other institutions,” he added, “requiring the evacuation of large portions of the mill while this work is done.”
As of April 14, there were 21 confirmed cases and 76 probable cases among mill workers; 12 people were admitted to hospital. (Martin Broad via Getty Images)
Peterson confirmed to Fox News Digital that Billrud — in addition to deep cleaning — has provided N95 masks to its employees, hired an “industrial hygienist” for guidance, inspected ventilation systems and changed filters. .
Local and national health agencies investigating the outbreak include PHDM, CDC, NIOSH, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The Billrood Paper Mill, which has been in operation since 1911, employs approximately 885 people. The mill produces paper for magazines, catalogs, books and other products. It is the headquarters of Bilrud In Sweden.
What to know about fungus
The Blastomyces fungus is found in the Midwestern, Southcentral and Southeast U.S., primarily in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, according to the CDC.
It grows mainly in moist soil and decaying wood and leaves.
The blastomyces fungus grows primarily in moist soil and decaying wood and leaves. (iStock)
The CDC states on its website that “microscopic fungal spores” can be inhaled.
It does not pass from person to person or between people and animals through the air.
In very rare cases, according to the CDC, blastomycosis is spread through needlestick injuries, cuts or sexual contact between infected people or animals.
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Mold does not usually cause illness in people.
However, some may experience symptoms such as fever, cough, night sweats, chest pain, fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches or weight loss.
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People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to disease spreading to their skin, bones, joints and central nervous system.
While blastomycosis can be treated with antifungal medications, the CDC says early diagnosis is important.
