Have you ever heard of Aspergillus fumigatus? This fungus (which feeds on decomposing organic matter) is nevertheless extremely widespread: its tiny spores circulate both in town and in the countryside, in houses and outdoors.
If Aspergillus fumigatus is completely harmless for the majority of the population, it can (rarely) be the cause of diseases, mainly respiratory – aspergillus sinusitis, aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis…
The fungus had grown in his brain, lungs and back
David Erwin, a 60-year-old American, has just paid the price. The 60-year-old had just finished chemotherapy, started for throat cancer, when he began to develop worrying symptoms: progressive paralysis of his right leg and arm, extremely intense back pain. ..
Worried, the American ended up consulting a doctor: he thus discovered that the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus had infected him, taking advantage of the weak immune system caused by chemotherapy… David Erwin was operated on shortly afterwards: the neurosurgeon removed a tumor composed of Aspergillus fumigatus from his nervous system. The fungus had also grown in his lungs and spine.
This Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published “the very first list of mushrooms dangerous to health“: among the 19”priority fungal pathogensmentioned, there is Aspergillus fumigatus, which the health authorities consider particularly threatening for the respiratory system.
Source : World Health Organization (WHO)
