A 29-year-old chef from Michigan, Ian Pritchard, tragically passed away after contracting a rare fungal infection that caused significant damage to his lungs. Pritchard, who hailed from Petoskey, was admitted to the hospital following flu-like symptoms before Thanksgiving. His condition rapidly worsened, leading to his transfer to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where doctors identified the presence of blastomycosis, a rare fungal infection.

Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus called blastomyces, commonly found in moist soil, decomposing matter, and the environment. Individuals can contract blastomycosis by inhaling the microscopic fungal spores present in the air. While most people exposed to the spores remain unaffected, some may develop symptoms such as fever and cough, with potential for the infection to become severe without appropriate treatment.

Ron Pritchard, Ian’s father, emphasized the pervasive nature of blastomyces in the environment, particularly in northern Michigan and the Midwest. He described the devastating impact of the infection on his son’s lungs, likening the damage to