The Western world’s obsession with Ancient Egypt, known as “Egyptomania,” wasn’t sparked solely by Howard Carter’s famous discovery of King Tut’s tomb, and didn’t fade with his passing. Despite—or maybe even fueled by—the tales of a curse linked to disturbing the tomb, the public eagerly gathered to witness King Tut’s relics whenever they were exhibited across the country.

The Curse of the boy King Tutankhamun, aligns with the Curse of Cleopatra in some measure (save that her mummy has yet to be discovered), as well as many other famous burials where preservation of sorts of their remains, is a potential breeding ground for Aspergillus Flavus, a fungal mould that enters victims via the lungs and weakens the human immune system.

After the opening of King Tut's tomb a century ago, the public became enthralled with the idea that many of those who entered were stricken with a a "mummy's curse" and died. There might be a scientific explanation. Shuttered, isolated tombs could grow dangerous fungal molds, particularly Aspergillus flavus, that could harm people with weakened immune systems. Aspergillus also might have contributed to the deaths of ten conservationists who opened the tomb of Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1973.

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection of usually the lungs, caused by the genus Aspergillus, a common mould that is breathed in frequently from the air, but does not usually affect most people. It generally occurs in people with lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis or tuberculosis, or those who are immunocompromized such as those who have had a stem cell or organ transplant or those who take medications such as steroids and some cancer treatments which suppress the immune system. Rarely, it can affect skin.

Aspergillosis occurs in humans, birds and other animals. Aspergillosis occurs in chronic or acute forms which are clinically very distinct. Most cases of acute aspergillosis occur in people with severely compromised immune systems such as those undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Chronic colonization or infection can cause complications in people with underlying respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A fungus ball in the lungs may cause no symptoms and may be discovered only with a chest X-ray, or it may cause repeated coughing up of blood, chest pain, and occasionally severe, even fatal, bleeding. A rapidly invasive Aspergillus infection in the lungs often causes cough, fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Poorly controlled aspergillosis can disseminate through the blood to cause widespread organ damage. Symptoms include fever, chills, shock, delirium, seizures, and blood clots. The person may develop kidney failure, liver failure (causing jaundice), and breathing difficulties. Death can occur quickly.

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