A deadly fungus outbreak has sickened dozens of people in southern Tennessee, prompting warnings from state health officials as investigations continue. The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed more than 35 cases of histoplasmosis over a three-month period in Maury and Williamson counties, raising concern among local leaders and medical professionals.
Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by exposure to Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus found in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. State epidemiologists told the Williamson County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 12 that no single source has been identified. Officials said the average age of those infected is 50, and some patients have been hospitalized, with several described as “critically ill.”
A family has also come forward claiming a loved one died after contracting the illness, though state officials said the infection has not been confirmed as the direct cause of any deaths. Symptoms can include fever, cough, extreme fatigue, body aches, chills, and chest pain, typically appearing within three to 17 days after exposure.
Because symptoms often resemble the flu, cases are frequently missed. Dr. Zaid Fadul told Fox News Digital, “Most of the time, we don’t get sick because the amount of spores we breathe in is minimal.” He warned that for vulnerable individuals, “If the immune system is compromised, histoplasmosis can run amok and cause a life-threatening illness.”
Health officials stressed the fungus does not spread person to person. They advised limiting soil-disturbing activities and wearing masks during high-risk outdoor work. Anyone experiencing symptoms after possible exposure was urged to seek medical care promptly.
