There are a few funguses that grow on wood that could spread to people. These usually require being aerosolized by saw blades, etc. Casual contact would be extremely rare. The most usual fungus in this category is Blastomycosis dermatitis. Most infections are limited to the lung although they occasionally spread to other organs in the body.
Infection is heralded by fever, cough, myalgia and malaise.
Although I am aware of this disease I have never seen a case in 15 years of practice. As noted, most cases involve workers in wood factories who inhale the fungus after mechanical aerosolization. However, none are immediately on the horizon for release. However, recurring infections caused by underlying medical conditions can cause repeat infections. Back to Drug InfoNet Home Page.