New NIOSH histoplasmosis resources available

NIOSH released new resources for employers and workers with information needed to understand and prevent work-related histoplasmosis in the United States. A new webpage and fact sheets explain what histoplasmosis is, how to recognize activities that might expose employees to Histoplasma, and how to protect workers from exposure.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Histoplasma. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in soil that contains large amounts of bird or bat droppings. People can get histoplasmosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air. While most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, those who do may have a fever, cough, and fatigue. Many people will get better on their own without medication. However, in some people, the infection can become severe and spread from the lungs to other parts of the body such as the eyes and the lymph nodes.