Valley Fever is an infection with symptoms similar to pneumonia: fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, night sweats, muscle aches or joint pain, and a rash on the upper body or legs. It is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil and has been found in Nevada. So far this year, there have been 33 cases in Clark County and 4 in Washoe County. This can be explained by the fact that Clark County is more populated than Washoe County, and it’s also in the southern part of the state where the fungus that causes Valley Fever is endemic. Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, which is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, or Utah) and parts of Mexico, Central and South America. The fungus was also recently found as far north as south-central Washington State. People can get Valley fever by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air, although most people who breathe in the spores don't get sick. Valley Fever can affect people of any age, but it's most common in adults aged 60 and older. Other groups of people may be at higher risk for developing the severe forms of Valley Fever are:
It is very difficult to avoid breathing in the fungus that causes Valley Fever in areas where it's common in the environment. People who live in these areas should try to avoid spending time in dusty places. The following are some common-sense methods to help avoid getting Valley Fever. Although these steps are recommended, they haven't been proven to prevent Valley Fever:
There is no vaccine for Valley Fever at this time, but scientists have been trying to make one since the 1960s. For more information about Valley Fever visit: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/index.html
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AuthorOPHIE records and analyzes data from disease investigations, identifies risk factors, and provides education on disease prevention in Nevada. Archives
November 2018
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