Blastomycosis Alert

[+wheeldoctor]

Here's a wake up call from the northwoods of Wisconsin that I found in a Merrill, WI. newspaper. This city is located about 150 miles east of MSP, Minn. Part of the news article reports, "What started out as simple cold-like symptoms ended a Merrill 16-year-old's life only hours after Tristan "Gracie Lou" Muenchow was finally diagnosed with blastomycosis, an uncommon but potentially serious fungal infection. A dozen others in Lincoln County have reportedly been diagnosed this year, including nine in the Merrill area. Blastomycosis is caused by inhalation of spores from a fungus found in soil and rotting wood. It is not contagious. The illness may cause acute lung infection with symptoms such as fever, dry cough, chest pain and weight loss, and a persistent cough associated with the production of thick sputum. Other symptoms include muscle aches, night sweats, coughing up blood, shortness of breath and chest tightness. It is very treatable with early diagnosis. On average it takes three weeks to several months after being exposed before symptoms occur. Gracie Lou began treatment for pneumonia Feb. 6. A week later the Merrill High School junior was taken to the emergency room and airlifted to Marshfield. She died Valentine's Day. Her father, Steven, 37, also is battling the illness. A community presentation will be offered by the Lincoln Health Department Thursday, March 16, at 1 and 7 p.m., at Merrill City Hall. For more information, call 536-0307".

 

I don't want to get anyone paranoid, but this story is very true. Maybe washing your hands or taking a shower if you have time after coming in from geocaching may be a good idea? I plan on sending this on to Geocaching.com for their thoughts. Hiding caches inside dead logs or rotting out stumps might not be as great of an idea anymore?? The condition is not that common, but Google up "blastomycosis" and read up on it if you're concerned. Please spread the word. Thanks!

[+reveritt]

Heres a link for anyone who wants to read more. Personally, I'm not going to worry about it.

[+Runaround]

I probably have a better chance of being killed during the car ride on the way to a cache site. I'm not going to lose any sleep over this.

[+briansnat]

I'm with Runaround. Not an issue. There are all kinds of potentially dangerous fugi and bacteria in the soil. Heck, one of the most dangerous lives in the human nose. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop picking it.

Edited March 12, 2006 by briansnat

[ttwo1969]

I'm a physician in Milwaukee and I will tell you that blasto is primarily an inhailed organism that rarely causes problems. Washing hands, although always a good idea, would not likely offer any protection.

 

This is a freak incident and I would not change any current routines. It is very unfortunate, but likely those patients were somehow predisposed to this infection.

 

Get out and enjoy the outdoors!

[+Deliveryguy428]

The way I cache I am more likely to get wrapped up so tight in thorns I never get out again then have to worry about the blastoid or whatever it is called

[+Rick618]

The area with the most recent problems looks like the place to be cautious, for the rest of us there are all sorts of nasties that are out there that warrant more concern than this.

[+MT CatRancher]

This is a total non-issue for me, I don't worry about stuff like that.

[ttwo1969]

It's appropriate not to worry about everything that you could be exposed to or that is endemic in your area.

 

Your health is much more likely to benefit from outdoor adventures and the risk is so slight I would not think twice about it.

[+clearpath]

Could this be the start of a drug crazed fad where teenagers are sniffing mushrooms?

[+ibycus]

Have to echo what has been said above. Sounds like a freak accident to me. Also, given that it is an inhaled fungi (even given in the article) doesn't sound like hand washing/showering is going to add much protection (although if you smell, your family will thank you for it anyways...)

[+JohnTee]

 

Now, there's an avatar for you . . .

 

Just stand there and take this! That's one Randy Raccoon! Gotta love it!

 

JohnTee

[+JohnTee]

Could this be the start of a drug crazed fad where teenagers are sniffing mushrooms?

 

Coulb be followed by toad-licking . . .

 

JohnTee

[+wheeldoctor]

I'm hoping it's a freak incident and won't let it bother me either. Like I said above, I didn't want to get anyone paranoid so by your responses, I'm glad I didn't. Case closed.

[+StagsRoar]

I'll bet blastoyd is the lasting on this doggies mind - was the dog geocaching when it was violated like this?

http://img.Groundspeak.com/user/avatar/dfa...05c22067c6d.jpg

[+RUFFLEDOSTRICH]

While it probably is a freak incident, it's good that we be aware of it. If a cacher is out there that can't get rid of something they think is pneumonia, this is good info to know. I'm not going to change my caching habits, but I thank the initial poster for making me aware.

[Keystone]

Closing thread, both because of the initial post being only tangentially related to geocaching, and because of the snickering about an avatar that violates the family-friendly policy of these forums.