Histoplasmosis--Kentucky, 1995

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is an infection resulting from inhalation of spores from the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum; the condition primarily affects the lungs. During August 1995, the Department for Health Services, Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources (KDHS), and local public health officials investigated two unrelated outbreaks of acute histoplasmosis in eastern Kentucky. This report summarizes preliminary findings of the investigations of these outbreaks.