Mouldy hay sparks health warning

The South West’s Public Health Unit has issued a warning to residents after a number of unusual mouldy hay infections were documented.

About 20 cases of mouldy hay, or sporotrichosis, have been diagnosed in the South West this year, but exact numbers are not known because it is not a recorded disease.

South West public health physician Dr Naru Pal said sporotrichosis was caused by a fungus called sporothrix schenckii.

Exposure to the fungus can lead to skin and lung infections.

“Although skin infection is the most common form, pulmonary infection can occur if a person inhales the microscopic, airborne fungal spores,” he said.

“Three children as young as six who had been in contact with straw mulch also developed the disease.

“Fact sheets have been distributed by the South West Population Health Unit to hay and straw suppliers which can be given to their clients, and are advising hay suppliers on methods to reduce the risk of proliferation of the organism.”

This is the first outbreak in WA in almost 10 years — the last recorded series of infections was in 2004.

Dr Pal said the symptoms were obvious and there was no vaccine to prevent the infection.

“The first symptom is usually a small painless nodule (bump) resembling an insect bite at the site where the fungus enters the skin,” he said.

“The nodule will eventually become bigger in size and may look like an open sore or ulcer that is very slow to heal.”

Wight and Emmett Produce Merchants owner James Searle said although he was not concerned for his business, he was worried about what people might be buying.

“I have heard of people buying mouldy hay elsewhere,” he said.

“You can generally smell it.

“Sometimes stores buy cheap hay and it backfires on them like this.

“My advice to the public is to buy from reputable stores and be on the look out for this sort of stuff.”