Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Centers for Disease Control asked doctors and laboratories in the Pacific Northwest Thursday to be on the look out for a new disease.

Cryptococcus gatti is a fungus that's native to Australia and other tropical areas. But it’s believed to have migrated to the Northwest about ten years ago -- maybe in timber shipments.

Infections are rare, with only 60 reported since 2004. But they can be severe and sometimes fatal.

State epidemiologist, Emilio DeBess, says the CDC wants doctors and labs to watch for the infection.

Emilio DeBess: "We're trying to collect information about different cases and try to understand a little bit more as to what's going on."

So far they know symptoms include prolonged cough, shortness of breath, headache, fever, and weight loss.

The spores of the fungus live in the soil and are inhaled. 54 percent of patients have been male and they span generations from 15 to 95.

Health officials also stress the infection is treatable.