Histoplasmosis from NCRC 2008
Posted: May 28, 2008 2:49 pm
I just got a phone call from my friend Shalom, who took the Level 1 weeklong this year in Mentone, and she just received the lab results that she tested positive for Histoplasmosis. She developed a nasty respiratory infection several days after returning home from NCRC. After fighting it for a week or so she went to the doctor who eventually got a lab test done for Histo. She is now under her doctor's care, and is working through her insurance to get the proper anti-fungal meds.
She is not a recreational caver, and has not been in any caves recently besides the ones that the Level 1's entered, and South Pittsburg Pit (we bounced it on the way down Friday). We did not even get off-rope at the bottom of S. Pittsburg, so its probably not a likely culprit. She said the caves that she entered during the weeklong were the following:
I don't want to jump to any unfair conclusions, but it is extremely likely that she acquired Histo from one of these caves during the weeklong seminar. If you were in these caves (especially in the Level 1 class), and have a respiratory infection, please visit a doctor and let him/her know of the potential exposure!
She is not a recreational caver, and has not been in any caves recently besides the ones that the Level 1's entered, and South Pittsburg Pit (we bounced it on the way down Friday). We did not even get off-rope at the bottom of S. Pittsburg, so its probably not a likely culprit. She said the caves that she entered during the weeklong were the following:
- Pettijohn's
- Steward Springs
- Manitou
I don't want to jump to any unfair conclusions, but it is extremely likely that she acquired Histo from one of these caves during the weeklong seminar. If you were in these caves (especially in the Level 1 class), and have a respiratory infection, please visit a doctor and let him/her know of the potential exposure!