Experts issue warning to state as one dead and over 30 people left seriously ill after contracting fungal infection

One death and more than 30 people left seriously ill in Tennessee, and it all traces back to a fungus most people never think about until it hits their doorstep. The culprit is histoplasmosis, a breathing-in-the-wrong-spores kind of infection that can turn a normal day into a medical nightmare.

Here’s the complicated part, it is tied to bird and bat droppings, then spread when spores get disturbed during construction or demolition. So in places like Thompson’s Station, especially around the June Lake area, the exposure risk can be sneaky, and symptoms can range from nothing at all to something far more serious, particularly for infants and anyone with a weakened immune system.

And for one family, the warning signs finally clicked after a mom saw an article, then realized this was not “a 7 to 10 day cold virus.”

When the state health officials reported more than 30 histoplasmosis cases in Williamson and Maury Counties, everyone suddenly had to take the June Lake area seriously.

Main Story

A fungal outbreak in Tennessee has taken the life of one person and left 30 others seriously unwell.

Health officials have now issued a warning as they rush to identify the source of the illnesses, which have been caused by histoplasmosis infections.

Key Point 2

Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus that can be found in bird and bat droppings, as per Mayo Clinic.

It is contracted when people breathe in spores, often during demolition or construction - for example, when soil is infected with droppings and then disrupted.

Eli’s story of feeling like “half my blood” was drained, while tests kept coming back negative, made the whole mystery even scarier.

Key Point 3

While some people never get symptoms, it can be dangerous for infants and those with weakened immune systems.

It’s a different kind of safety rule, like airlines banning pilots from sporting beards.

Key Point 4

"I think they drained half my blood it felt and nothing was coming back positive," Eli told Denver7.

Meanwhile, mom Cari explained the breakthrough came when she was sent an article about the fungal infection.

Cari’s moment of clarity, after she saw an article and recognized the symptoms, is when the timeline started to feel real for the family.

Key Point 5

"Instantly, I was like oh my gosh, I bet this is what he has," Cari said.

"I felt like the crazy mom I kept calling, but I knew he had it.

Now the big question is whether people in Thompson’s Station will treat future sickness like a bigger deal, especially if construction or demolition is stirring up soil.</p>

Key Point 6

"I want people to know in Thompson's Station, especially around this June Lake area, if your kid is sick, this isn't a 7 to 10 day cold virus. It's a bigger deal.

Following the outbreaks, state health officials said, as per Denver7: "More than 30 histoplasmosis cases have been identified in Williamson & Maury Counties.

Key Point 7

"Histoplasmosis is commonly found throughout the soil in Tennessee, so it can be challenging to completely prevent exposure. People at highest risk of severe infection are those that are exposed to a large amount of spores and/or those with weakened immune systems.

"If an individual feels that they are at high risk or want to mitigate their risk even further, they can consider wearing a protective mask like an N-95 while conducting higher risk activities."

The next “cold” in June Lake could be the one that changes everything.

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