Blastomycosis < 90% EASY >

Most cases are sporadic and linked to activities that disturb the soil, such as construction, excavation, hunting, fishing, and camping.

Primarily found in North America, specifically the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes region, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. blastomycosis

Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection primarily caused by inhaling spores of the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis . Often referred to as "the great pretender," it is frequently misdiagnosed because its symptoms—ranging from flu-like illness to chronic pneumonia—mimic more common conditions like bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis, or lung cancer. Most cases are sporadic and linked to activities

Adult males are more frequently affected, likely due to higher occupational and recreational exposure to outdoor environments. Clinical Manifestations Blastomycosis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf sometimes exceeding 100 cases per 100

Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota have some of the highest reported incidences, sometimes exceeding 100 cases per 100,000 people during outbreaks.

The fungus thrives in moist, acidic soil and decaying organic matter (wood and leaves), particularly near waterways.