The symptoms started less than 24 hours after he had dispersed rotting tree and plant mulch in the garden. He died in intensive care a week later.
By the time the man's doctors realized his condition was aspergillus fungal infection and began appropriate treatment, it was too late to save him. Later tests revealed he had developed acute aspergillosis, a dangerous reaction to aspergillus fumigatus spores.
The fungus, which is commonly found in decaying vegetation, usually sets off a relatively harmless allergic reaction but can cause serious problems if too many spores get into the lungs. People with weak immune systems are particularly vulnerable. In 1989, a similar fatal case was reported in a healthy British gardener.
Doctors advised gardeners and other people who regularly handle organic waste to wear face masks and to keep a distance when handling rotting material.
