Billerud has announced that it will temporarily close its Escanaba mill for up to three weeks as it investigates the blastomycosis fungal infection outbreak among its workers.
The company said the decision was made to protect employees and contractors’ health and safety. During the closure, the company will conduct additional cleaning based on recommendations from NIOSH and other organizations. Billerud anticipates that the mill will begin idling next week.
“Our top priority now, and always, is protecting the health and safety of our employees and contractors who work at our Escanaba Mill,” Billerud president and CEO Christoph Michalski said. “We care deeply about their well-being and are doing everything we can to protect them and identify and address the root cause of the blastomycosis fungal infections.”
The company stated that employees will continue to receive pay during the closure.
The Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM) first notified Billerud of the atypical pneumonia infections on March 3. To date, 21 cases of blastomycosis have been confirmed among Escanaba Mill workers, with 76 more probable cases. The company has been collaborating with PHDM, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, NIOSH, and the CDC to investigate the outbreak.
The company, with assistance from NIOSH, CDC, MDHHS, and PHDM, has conducted a deep cleaning of the Escanaba mill. The cleaning includes inspecting ventilation systems and replacing filters, testing raw materials, and conducting an onsite Health Hazard Evaluation to study the health and safety of employees. Billerud has been communicating regularly with employees, contractors, and visitors, and encouraging them to wear NIOSH and OSHA-recommended N95 masks while recommending that they contact their healthcare providers if they experience any symptoms.
The U.P. is a known risk area for blastomycosis infection, making it difficult to identify the source since the fungus is endemic to the area. Blastomycosis is a rare disease caused by a fungus found in moist soil and decomposing matter, and it can become airborne if disturbed.
The CDC states that it is not contagious and does not spread from person to person or between animals and people. Antifungal medications prescribed by a medical provider can treat blastomycosis. For more information, visit the CDC’s website.
