Cinnaminson, NJ, September 18th, 2020
For 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated September 21st through the 25th as Fungal Disease Awareness Week. The week is intended to highlight the importance of recognizing serious fungal diseases and to highlight the fact that some fungal diseases that cause serious infections in the United States go undiagnosed.
Fungal diseases are often caused by fungi that are common in the environment and while most fungi are not dangerous, some types can be harmful to health. This can be especially true for people with a weak immune system. Aspergillus is one such common mold that can cause serious infections in vulnerable populations. This makes its presence a significant concern in places such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Transmission can occur through inhalation of airborne conidia states the CDC and healthcare-acquired infections may be sporadic or associated with dust exposure during building renovations or construction. Occasional outbreaks of cutaneous infection have even been traced to contaminated biomedical devices.
“Aside from fungal infection concerns, simple exposure to elevated levels of any type of fungi in the air people breathe can cause respiratory irritation, allergies and even act as an asthma trigger for some people with the condition,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This is why fungi growing indoors can be a concern for building occupants anywhere, not just in healthcare settings. To help identify and mitigate exposure risks, EMSL offers comprehensive indoor environmental quality laboratory testing services, sampling supplies and test kits to identify mold and other indoor pollutants. We even carry a full line of building inspection tools to help locate any sources of moisture that could allow for the growth of fungi indoors.”
EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about Fungal Disease Awareness Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/T5y-dctOU2w.
To learn more about microbial contaminants, infection control or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. To access IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria,
Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at
www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.