Outbreak of histoplasmosis among industrial plant workers--Nebraska, 2004.

In February 2004, the Nebraska Health and Human Services System (NHHSS) notified CDC about an outbreak of histoplasmosis among workers at a local agricultural processing plant (plant A). Three workers at the plant had acute, febrile, respiratory illness; two had serologic evidence of histoplasmosis. NHHSS and CDC conducted an investigation to determine the source of transmission and the extent of the outbreak. This report summarizes the findings of that investigation, which confirmed occupationally acquired histoplasmosis. Additional measures might be necessary to minimize risk for histoplasmosis among persons who work in the agricultural industry in areas where it is endemic.