Arizona Dust storm and Coccidioidomycosis

[jflorida]

Valley Fever cases expected to triple as a result of Haboob

"Because Maricopa County has ten times the number of people and three times the proportion of the population susceptible to first Valley Fever infections, we should expect 3,600 additional Valley Fever infections in Maricopa County for a total of 5,000 infections in July and August," Dr. Galgiani said. [ http://www.kvoa.com/news/valley-fever-cases-expected-to-triple-as-a-result-of-haboob/ ]



Coccidioidomycosis [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002299/ ]



Valley Fever Germs uprooted by recent dust storms in Yuma [ http://www.kswt.com/story/15063183/valley-fever-germs-uprooted-by-recent-dust-storms-in-yuma ]
"when soil becomes disturbed, that be through nature, like the dust storms about a week or so, the fungus clings to the soil. The soil becomes in the air and we share that air. We breath that air. We get the fungus in our bodies."

a number of cases are found locally, "50,000 people in the United States develop Valley Fever, the disease. 2/3's of those people are in Arizona."

 

[jflorida]

Re: Arizona Dust storm and Coccidioidomycosis

Recap from the NWS:

Major Dust Storm Moves Through Arizona [ http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/pns/2011/July/DustStorm.php ]

 

[Emily]

Re: Arizona Dust storm and Coccidioidomycosis

What a massive dust storm!

While records of most widespread, most intense, largest, etc., dust storms are not kept, NWS meteorologists that have worked in Phoenix for almost 30 years have said this was one of the most significant dust storms they have experienced.

The chronic form of coccidioidomycosis can develop 20 or more years after initial infection but sounds treatable if diagnosed properly.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002299/