ESCANABA, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Nearly 100 people have been infected and a dozen hospitalized by a rare fungus linked to a paper factory in Escanaba.

The fungus Blastomyces most likely arrived on moist and rotten wood at the Billerud paper mill.

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The outbreak started making news in early March when health officials confirmed 15 cases of the fungus.

All the patients are workers at the factory. Some are facing severe symptoms while one has been hospitalized for weeks.

There are no reports of fatalities or the outbreak involving people who do not work at the mill.

Gerald Kell, who heads up the United Steelworkers Local 21 union representing employees at the plant, told the Detroit Free Press, “I’ve been at the paper mill for about 11 years and we have never seen anything like this.”

More information can be found on the Public Health website for Delta and Menominee Counties.

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