The study Azole resistance mechanisms and population structure of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus on retail plant products was conducted in Georgia but their findings apply to Virginia:
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus that is widely distributed across the world (1, 2). It decomposes plant matter; therefore, it is commonly located in areas where plant growth or decomposition is abundant, such as in crop production settings, flower gardens, and compost piles (2–5).
. . .
Aspergillus fumigatus has recently been designated as a critical fungal pathogen by the World Health Organization. It is most deadly to people with compromised immune systems, and with the emergence of antifungal resistance to multiple azole drugs, this disease carries a nearly 100% fatality rate without treatment or if isolates are resistant to the drugs used to treat the disease. It is important to determine the relatedness and origins of resistant A. fumigatus isolates in the environment, including plant-based retail products, so that factors promoting the development and propagation of resistant isolates can be identified.
Learn more in the article Critical Public Health Threat: Deadly Fungus Discovered in Commercial Soil, Compost, and Flower Bulbs.
Image: File:Aspergillus.jpg