Fungal Terrorists

The possibility of fungal terrorists occurred to me a few weeks ago as two totally separate but related events happened that suddenly revealed a context previously unseen.  Once I saw the implications I immediately realized the potential global impact but I didn't have any evidence to back-up my theory, until now, that is.

I had just returned from my doctor's office where I have to go every few months to get treatment for a particularly obstinate fungus that lives on my skin.  As the fungus multiples it aggravates my skin, causing rashes and a burning itch, so every so often I take a fungicide to control the population.  My doctor says that she has seen an increase in patients who have various forms of fungus and that the medical science isn't sure what is causing the fungal surge.

A week or two later I was in my garden engaged in hand-to-stem combat with the weeds when my neighbor came over for a quick confession of her recent eco-sin.  After hearing her confession and giving absolution she offered up a warning by showing me her bandaged hand.  It seems that she had contracted a very rare fungal infection either from her rose bushes or the compost she had just purchased.  Without any prompting from me she laid back the gauze covering to expose a coin-sized blister that was blood red.

"They had to do a biopsy"she indicated the single stitch next to the bleached skin where the sore had been drained.  "I'm going to have to take a 6-month regimen of fungicides to try and stop its growth and I'm worried about my liver", she went on to say. I just stared at her because I couldn't believe there were deadly fungi on the prowl in our neighborhood. 

"But you wear gloves in the garden all the time, don't you?" I whined, looking at my own bare hands and scanning for unidentified fungal pores.

"Yes, all the time so I have no idea how I got it" she said tucking in the wound with the bandage blanket.

This got me thinking about the connection between global warming and brazen fungi that could encouraged to attack humans as the planet warms.  Just as the fear was regressing I ran across this article on the connection between fungi and global warming that confirms my fears.  They are not only encouraged but they are thriving.  And some are now coming out twice a year.

So keep a close eye on your little itches and get those biking shorts into the washer, now!