Science Visualized Health & Medicine

Fungi that cause serious lung infections are now found throughout the U.S.

Doctors should be on the lookout for the organisms, researchers say

An illustration of the spores of a soil fungi called Histoplasma.

A lung infection called histoplasmosis can be caused when the spores of soil fungi called Histoplasma (illustrated) are inhaled.

Roger Harris/Science Photo Library/Getty

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Three types of fungi that cause serious lung infections and were once thought to be confined to certain regions of the United States are now widespread.