A dangerous fungal disease is rapidly spreading across the country, doctors warn

Doctors warn of a dangerous fungal disease spreading rapidly across the country, especially from those who live or visit California and Arizona areas.

If you think this sounds like something out of The Last of Us montage where a parasitic fungal infection ravages humanity, there are some very low level similarities.

Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis or “cocci”) is a major cause of pneumonia, said Dr. Brad Perkins, chief medical officer carius, a company that provides advanced diagnostics for infectious diseases.

“It’s a fungus,” said Perkins, a former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official who led the anthrax bioterrorism investigation. “Most causes of pneumonia are caused by bacteria. It’s a fungus that lives in the soil and is inhaled in dusty environments, whether it’s a dust storm, construction or excavation.”

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What are the symptoms of valley fever?

Valley fever and COVID-19 share many common symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, tiredness or tiredness. In rare cases, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious illness.

Animals, including pets, can also become infected with Valley Fever by inhaling fungal spores from dirt and street dust. However, it cannot be transmitted from one person or animal to another. About 200 people die from this disease every year.

“These are mostly people with severe immunodeficiency diseases that underlie this infection,” Perkins said. “In these people, it can be a devastating infection. Fortunately, this is quite rare.”

According to Perkins, prevention is a challenge. The risk is mainly associated with travel to high-risk areas.

“People concerned about the risk of developing Valley Fever should try to avoid dusty situations, mainly in the summer and during peak heat,” Perkins said.

You should also contact your doctor if you develop signs or symptoms of pneumonia.

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Where is valley fever found?

Valley fever mushrooms coccidioids immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, reports the CDC.

In the US, scientists have found C. immitis mostly in California and also in Washington state. S. posadasi found primarily in Arizona, but also in New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and parts of southern California.

Southern California, especially the southern San Joaquin Valley, and southern Arizona, including the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, have the highest rates of valley fever, according to the CDC. The disease is likely also prevalent in parts of West Texas and along the Rio Grande.

In California, state health officials said the number of reported cases of valley fever increased significantly in recent years, tripling between 2014 and 2018. Most cases of valley fever in California (more than 65%) are reported in the Central Valley and Central Coast regions, according to the California Department of Health.

Perkins has a word of wisdom for the thousands of football fans heading to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for the Super Bowl to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles.

“If you’re just going to the airport, the hotel, and the Super Bowl, you’ll probably be fine,” Perkins said. “If you’re hiking in the desert, you might think about the risk of developing valley fever.”

Arizona Department of Health said there were 11,523 reported cases of valley fever in the state in 2020. A total of 94% of cases were reported in 3 counties – Maricopa, Pima and Pinal, which are home to Phoenix and Tucson.

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Am I at risk of getting valley fever?

While most people who inhale the spores do not get sick, those who develop valley fever usually feel better within a few weeks or months. About 5-10% of people who get valley fever will develop serious or long-term lung problems.

“Many people have this infection asymptomatic, so they don’t have any symptoms at all,” Perkins said.

However, the presence of infection is likely to be a protective factor in the future.

“If you’re one of the lucky ones who gets infected and doesn’t have symptoms, you probably have some degree of protection going forward,” adds Perkins.

If you develop symptoms, they are very similar to typical pneumonia caused by bacteria.

“If you see a doctor, whether you’re hospitalized or an outpatient, they’ll likely prescribe medications that are meant for the bacteria and won’t have any effect on this fungus,” Perkins said.

Perkins adds that this is one way Karius offers a better diagnostic test for such diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients. A single carius diagnostic test using a single blood draw can determine whether it is a bacterium or fungus of any type and provide doctors with the information they need and patients can get the right treatment faster.

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Why is Valley fever spreading?

The increase in cases is primarily due to people migrating to areas like Arizona and California and people traveling there for vacation, Perkins said.

“Many of them may be retirees or elderly people who, firstly, have not been exposed to Valley fever in the past, and secondly, may be immunosuppressed with a higher risk of disease,” he adds.

The climate crisis may also be to blame. As temperatures rise, this can encourage fungus to thrive in the soil in these areas.

“It’s important to note that there is some level of valley fever throughout the western United States, but it’s much higher in the Phoenix area of ​​Arizona and parts of the interior of California,” Perkins said.

A study published in the journal GeoHealth found that the range of valley fever could reach the Canadian border before the end of the century.

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