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A rare fungal disease, Cryptococcosis, has recently been shown to be quickly spreading throughout Canada and Northwestern USA.

Cryptococcus gattii, the fungus that causes the fungal disease, cryptococcosis is soilborne and is also associated with certain trees such as eucalyptus, pine or fir trees. It was previously only known in warmer climates throughout the tropics.

However, since 1999, outbreaks of highly infectious strains of the fungus have been reported in the cooler areas of Canada and Northwestern USA. These strains cause serious illness in otherwise healthy people and domestic and wild animals and prove fatal in some cases.

Symptoms of Fungal Diseases

Symptoms of fungal diseases depend on the type of fungal disease and location within the body. Some types of fungal diseases can be mild, such as a rash or a mild respiratory illness. However, other fungal diseases such as Cryptococcosis can be severe. Also, fungal infections such as fungal pneumonia or bloodstream infection, and can lead to serious complications such as meningitis or death.

Transmission of Cryptococcus gattii

Cryptococcus gattii is transmitted to humans and other animals by inhaling spores of the fungus that are carried in the air. After infecting the lungs, cells of the fungus can travel through the bloodstream to infect other areas of the body, including the brain. The most common symptoms of this fungal disease are shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, fever, and headache.

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References

https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-gattii/

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