Sonya Cruz of Kenosha, Wisconsin, died from an infection caused by blastomyces, a rare fungus that releases harmful and potentially deadly spores into the air when disturbed.
The fungus is most prevalent in damp, forested areas of the soil. Once the spores settle in the lungs, it can cause an infection called blastomycosis and develop symptoms such as fever and cough. It can become serious and even deadly if untreated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
