08/28/2026
CDC: Deadly mould infections are more common than we thought — and flooding makes exposure worse.
A new CDC study, covered by the Associated Press, looked at invasive mould disease in Atlanta-area hospitals from 2020 to 2024.
What they found:About 450 confirmed cases over five years
◦ Roughly 1 in 3 patients died in hospital
◦ These infections are not required to be reported, so the problem has been easy to miss
◦ Most patients were older or had weakened immune systems
◦ Floods, hurricanes, and other water disasters increase mould exposure
Most healthy people will not get an invasive infection from everyday mould. That is important. What is important is this: after a flood, leak, or storm, mould is not “just a stain.” Spores in a wet building are a serious issue for seniors, cancer patients, and anyone with a compromised immune system — and they can spread if water damage is ignored or cleaned the wrong way.
What property owners should do after water damage:
1. Dry the building fast. Wet materials should not sit for days.
2. Find the source. If the leak is still active, mould will return.
3. Don’t just wipe, paint, or run a fan through the house. That can push spores into other rooms.
4. Get a proper assessment if there are vulnerable people in the home, a musty smell after a flood, or damage you can’t fully see.
At First Response, we treat mould as a health-and-building problem: moisture investigation, contained removal, and remediation done to professional standards — not a cosmetic cover-up.
If you’ve had flooding, foundation leakage, or a persistent musty smell, don’t wait for it to “dry out on its own.”
First Response — assessment and mould remediation done properly.
613-979-2795 | Ottawa & Eastern Ontario
Link: https://apnews.com/article/mold-disease-cdc-report-flooding-dc2d3ee9fa70d6c4aa825962637f4fda
