An acute, subacute or chronic infection by the fungal organism, Cryptococcus neoformans. Infection generally causes a pulmonary infection but may also disseminate to the meninges. The pulmonary form is generally mild and transient (often unrecognised). With dissemination lesions may occur in the skeletal, cutaneus and visceral tissues. The most commonly recognised dissemination is to the central nervous system (meningitis). Cryptococcosis, or cryptococcal disease, is a potentially fatal fungal disease. It is caused by one of two species; Cryptococcus neoformansand Cryptococcus gattii. These were all previously thought to be subspecies of C. neoformans, but have now been identified as distinct species. Cryptococcosis is believed to be acquired by inhalation of the infectious propagule from the environment. Although the exact nature of the infectious propagule is unknown, the leading hypothesis is the basidiospore created through sexual or asexual reproduction. An OSH glossary used in safety and health at work which is adopted by ILO