ESCANABA, Mich. (AP) — A paper mill in northern Michigan will close for up to three weeks for a scrubbing after authorities confirmed at least 21 cases of a fungal infection among workers since March and dozens more probable cases.
It comes as health officials confirm one person has died in connection with the outbreak. The person has been identified only as a contractor who worked at the mill and passed away recently due to blastomycosis.
The illness, blastomycosis, is related to a fungus that grows in moist soil and decomposing wood and leaves, according to the public health department in Delta County. Blastomycosis does not pass from person to person, the department said. Common symptoms are cough, fever, shortness of breath, joint pain and weight loss.
The Billerud Paper Mill in Escanaba, which employs more than 800 people, will close temporarily, the company said Thursday.
The mill will undergo “deep cleaning in high traffic areas through the mill” as well as other steps, including vent inspections, filter replacements and tests on raw materials, said Kevin Kuznicki, president of Billerud North America.
Billerud said in a statement that an industrial outbreak of the fungus has not been “documented anywhere in the U.S.” The company said at least 21 cases have been confirmed in Escanaba. 12 people are hospitalized, according to health officials.
In addition, health officials say 76 people have been classified as probable cases. "A probable case is a person with symptoms of blastomycosis and who has a positive antigen or antibody test."
The health department in early March first publicly disclosed a number of unusual pneumonia infections among mill workers.
The mill produces paper for magazines, catalogs, books and other products. Billerud is based in Sweden.
