ESCANABA — The Escanaba paper mill resumed operations Monday after being idled on April 13 as a precautionary measure against blastomycosis, a fungal disease that has affected mill employees in unprecedented numbers.

“Following a deep cleaning recommended by public health authorities and experts, the Escanaba Mill has initiated resumption of operations as of May 8. To date, no Blastomyces spores have been found within the mill. The health and safety of our employees and contractors remains our top priority and we are focused on ensuring a safe return to the mill. We continue to work closely with and follow the recommendations of local, state, and federal health experts as they continue to investigate this dynamic situation,” Billerud said in a statement posted on escanabamillinfo.com, a website started by the paper company after the start of the outbreak.

Billerud first learned of the blastomycosis fungal infections on March 3 from Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties after the health department was notified by OSF St. Francis Hospital of several atypical pneumonia infections in individuals who work at the Escanaba mill.

As of Friday, there had been a total of 115 cases of blastomycosis, all of which were either employees, contractors or visitors to the Billerud Paper Mill. Fourteen of the 115 cases required hospitalization and one person has died as a result of the outbreak.

On average over the past five years, only 26 cases of blastomycosis have been reported for the entire State of Michigan annually.

However, the Upper Peninsula is a known risk area for blastomycosis infection.