Michigan man passes away due to uncommon fungal infection

Michigan man passes away due to uncommon fungal infection
A photomicrograph of Blastomyces dermatitidis in its budding yeast form found in a piece of tissue. (Courtesy CDC)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A man from northern Michigan has passed away after contracting an uncommon fungal infection.

News 8’s affiliate, UpNorthLive reported that Ian Pritchard has died weeks after being diagnosed with a blastomycosis infection. The 29-year-old Pritchard worked as a chef in Harbor Springs before his passing. He was initially hospitalized in November and later moved to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

In an update to Pritchard’s GoFundMe page, the organizer mentioned that he passed away on Saturday evening.

“(Ian’s father Ron Pritchard) told me it was Ian’s decision to come off of life support. He was quite alert today and indicated to them that he was ready to go. The young man has been in the hospital since the week before Thanksgiving,” the update read. “The blastomycosis fungal infection ravaged Ian’s lungs beyond repair. Ian must have felt that he was not going to come out of it and his strength to go on was depleted. So, Ron, Linda and Ian’s sister Megan told him that it was OK to let go. They did not want to be selfish and hang onto him if he was ready to go.”

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UpNorthLive had previously reported that the hope was Pritchard’s body could clear the infection so he could receive a lung transplant.

The fungus that causes blastomycosis can be found just about anywhere. It grows in moist soil and decomposing matter. People are infected by directly breathing the fungal sports, which means it cannot be spread from person to person. However, even with exposure, blastomycosis infections are rare.

A side-by-side comparison of a healthy set of lungs (right) compared to a set of lungs dealing with a blastomycosis infection. (Courtesy CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the best way to avoid infection is to take precautions when near moist soil, disturbed soil or participating in activities in heavily wooded areas.

The CDC also recommends wearing personal protective equipment, like face masks, eye protection and gloves when “engaging in higher risk activities,” waiting to move leaf litter until it is dry and avoiding moving or disturbing soil on windy days.

Pritchard’s death comes less than a year after a major blastomycosis outbreak was tracked back to a sawmill in Escanaba. In all, 118 people were infected. Only one person died from their infection.

The GoFundMe account has helped Pritchard’s parents make trips to and from Detroit to be with their son. The page organizer said any leftover funds would be used toward funeral expenses. As of Monday morning, the fundraiser had raised more than $18,000.