Are histoplasmosis cases tracked alongside other fungal infections in the US?
Public health agencies in the US monitor histoplasmosis together with two other fungal infections: coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) and blastomycosis. These three diseases are often grouped because they share similar geographic patterns and can cause comparable symptoms. Surveillance reports from 2019 and during the COVID-19 pandemic show that cases of histoplasmosis are counted and reported alongside these other fungal infections 12.
What the research says
A 2019 surveillance report specifically describes cases of coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis in the United States, indicating that these three infections are tracked together 1. Another report examined trends in these same three fungal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing ongoing surveillance 2. While histoplasmosis is not always grouped with all fungal infections, it is consistently paired with coccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis in national surveillance efforts. A separate report on a histoplasmosis cluster in travelers from Costa Rica highlights that individual outbreaks are also investigated, but this does not involve routine tracking alongside other fungal infections 3.
What to ask your doctor
- Which fungal infections are routinely reported in your state or region?
- How do histoplasmosis case numbers compare to coccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis in recent years?
- Are there any changes in histoplasmosis surveillance during or after the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Where can I find the latest surveillance data for fungal infections in the US?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Infectious Disease and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.