Tennessee Fungus Outbreak Sickens 35, Kills 1, Linked to Soil Exposure
MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2026 — Tennessee health officials are investigating a cluster of infections tied to a fungus found in soil, after at least 35 people became sick.
One death is under review.
The illness, called histoplasmosis, affects the lungs and can feel like the flu. Symptoms may include fever, cough, chest pain, chills, tiredness and night sweats.
Most people recover, but serious illness, and in rare cases, death, can happen, especially in people with weak immune systems.
The fungus that causes histoplasmosis lives in soil, especially in areas along the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, including central Tennessee.
It can become airborne when soil is disturbed, often through construction, landscaping, farming or yardwork, or through contact with bird or bat droppings in soil, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
LINK:https://www.drugs.com/news/tennessee-fungus-outbreak-sickens-35-kills-1-linked-soil-exposure-128474.html
