Yep - I had the thermostatically controlled switch go on my attic fan in the middle of the summer just after 8 months. went to Grainger, bought another thermo-switch and it is still running 10 years later.
yep - rip it out. Find out what else is hiding back there. better safe than sorry. by the way, never mention the word mold if you ever try and sell the place. Sets off all sorts of alarm bells with real estate agents.
mc