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Abstract:
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Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus that dwells in soil that contains large amounts of bat or bird droppings. The infection is caused by breathing in the fungal spores. The infection impacts people differently, from a mild fever and cough to very severe symptoms in those with weakened immune systems. Reports of histoplasmosis in the United States have dated back to the 1930s, however, since 2010 the number of cases has been on the rise. Histoplasmosis is reported to be the most common fungal endemic to North America, yet hospital records are limited. Using data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we assess the spread of histoplasmosis from 2010-1014. We use a spatial binary model to denote the presence and absence of histoplasmosis in the United States for a given year. The dynamic linear model is used to capture the progression of the amount of histoplasmosis cases that occurred in the previous year. We discuss environmental factors and the implications of areas that are that are more susceptible to the infection.
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