A Rare Fungus is Infecting Football Players
Topic: Public Health
A fungus called Vittaforma corneaea is causing an outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis.
A rare water-borne parasite is behind an outbreak of severe conjunctivitis affecting over 100 people.
The Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control identified the microscopic parasitic fungus as the cause of the eye infections.
Aussie Rules players with symptoms are being urged to contact health authorities.
The public is being told to stay vigilant and take precautions at high-risk playing fields.
Here's what we know about the outbreak.
The NT's health authorities have launched an investigation into the outbreak.
An investigation was launched after teams reported dozens of suspected conjunctivitis cases.
The number of reported cases of keratoconjunctivitis linked to the NTFL has climbed above 100.
A public health alert was issued over an increase in conjunctivitis cases among Darwin football clubs.
Keratoconjunctivitis is similar to conjunctivitis but more severe, affecting the cornea and the lining of the eye.
The CDC announced the results of its investigation, naming Vittaforma corneaea as the cause of the outbreak.
Vittaforma corneaea is a type of microsporidia, a tiny, single-cell parasite.
Microsporidia are widespread in the environment and can infect humans and animals.
They most commonly cause gastro-like sickness in people with compromised immune systems.
Vittaforma corneaea is a less common sub-type of microsporidia parasite that infects the eye.
Eye specialists diagnose conjunctivitis by using a slit lamp to scrutinise a patient's eye.
Keratoconjunctivitis can cause a range of symptoms in and around the eyes.
Those symptoms include redness, itching, and discharge.
There have been no previous outbreaks of Vittaforma corneaea in the NT.
According to an optometrist, it's not something that Top End health authorities have seen before.
The optometrist has treated dozens of infected footballers and says it's a new phenomenon.
Researchers have documented outbreaks of Vittaforma corneaea infections in other parts of the world.
This month, researchers studied an outbreak among rugby players in Japan and found it was increasingly recognised as affecting healthy people.
The optometrist says this is the first time he's seen microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in the NT.
The outbreaks occurred following high temperatures, high humidity, and increased rainfall.
The molecular links between environmental reservoirs and human diseases remain poorly understood.
The researchers underscore the importance of environmental surveillance in sports fields.
What happens now that the cause of the outbreak is known?
The CDC is still trying to nail down the source of the outbreak.
Several playing fields in Darwin have been identified as high-risk areas.
People active in high-risk areas should wash mud off their face and eyes and shower immediately.
Anyone who has played on those fields since January 1 and experienced symptoms should contact a GP or optometrist.
TIO Stadium in Marrara is one of the locations identified by the CDC as high risk.
Up to 40 patients have been making good recoveries from the eye infection.
The eye infection is resolving, and the corneas are clear.
The patients are being tapered off steroids slowly and hopefully will have a complete healing.
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