NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Middle Tennessee in recent weeks has seen a rise in cases of a fungal infection spread by breathing in spores, leading to many on social media pointing to “fog they create” as the reason for the surge.
WSMV spoke to experts about the claim.
What is histoplasmosis?
Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by the fungus called Histoplasma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s “caused by breathing in spores of the fungus.” The fungus itself lives in soil and is usually found where there are bird or bat droppings.
The Cleveland Clinic says that an estimated 75% of adults who live in areas where that fungus is found have been infected, even if they did not see any symptoms.
Does fog cause histoplasmosis to spread?
With the rise of cases in Middle Tennessee, many on social media have been pointing to fog as the reason, some even making claims that the fog has been manmade or purposely created, or that histoplasmosis is being “sprayed.” Experts say those claims are false…