|
Updated: 3:26 PM Jun 7, 2007
Pine Needles May Have Led To A Rare Infection
Health officials believe they now know the reason a 16-year-old girl from Merrill died last year.
Posted: 2:13 PM Jun 5, 2007 |
|
The health department says a large pile of pine needles at Merrill's yard waste site is the likely source of a rare fungal infection that led to the death of a 16-year-old girl and sickened 20 others last year.
State Epidemiologist John Archer says weather patterns and soil conditions contributed to the outbreak of blastomycosis. He says it was likely the largest urban outbreak in the country.
Tristan Muenchow, a Merrill High School junior, died February 14th of last year from the fungal infection. She lived next door to the waste site.
Thirteen of the people who got sick lived within a half-mile of the yard waste site and three others had almost daily exposure to it.
State Microbiologist John Pfister says 9 months of drought in early 2005 followed by rain in the fall might have created an environment for the fungus to grow in the pile of pine needles and release spores.
- NEW INFORMATION: Injured girls in fatal teen crash recovering
- Source says Obama will free 10 states from No Child Left Behind law
- Investigators searching for missing man
- Democratic Sen. Vinehout enters governor's race
- UPDATE: Name released in standoff arrest
- Wisconsin's budget condition worsens
- Wisconsin homeowners to get $140M under settlement
- Senators targeted for recall to submit challenges
- Student debt may bring on next crisis
- 3rd allegation surfaces against UW's Chadima
- Democratic Sen. Vinehout enters governor's race
119 Comments - Unions seek veto pledge over bargaining rights
48 Comments - Source says Obama will free 10 states from No Child Left Behind law
23 Comments - 3rd allegation surfaces against UW's Chadima
19 Comments - Student debt may bring on next crisis
19 Comments - Wisconsin teachers union endorses Falk
15 Comments
