Blastomycosis exists in the form of mold

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Deadly Fungus

Updated: 6:35 PM Mar 1, 2006

WMTV - Madison,WI

VIDEO

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/2390436.html

In Merrill, a 16-year-old teenager was killed after contracting

blastomycosis.

Six others in Lincoln County have been sickened in the last two

months.

The fungal infection has also shown up in Marathon and Sawyer

Counties.

Blastomycosis exists in the form of mold, which when ingested

creates a fungal infection. The disease primarily affects the lungs

and skin.

And while, the fungal infection is not new to Wisconsin, it does

have state health officials examining all the case details.

Archer, an epidemiologist for the State of Wisconsin

says, " We're seeing a cluster, which is more than we normally see so

far this time of the year. They normally see eight cases a year, and

we're probably going to exceed that in a short time. "

Blastomycosis can not be transferred from person to person.