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• Serious or long-term lung problems
• Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis
• Acute pneumonia
• Meningitis and possibly death
• Valley fever causes about 50 to 100 deaths in the U.S. each year
• Symptoms usually go away without treatment
• No over-the-counter medications
• Antifungal medication that usually lasts 3-6 months
• There is no available vaccine to prevent Valley fever
• Dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis
• Flu-like symptoms that go away on their own
• Fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, chest pain, night sweats, swelling of legs and feet, joint pain, rash on upper body or legs
• Incubation period: 1 to 3 weeks
• Symptoms that last longer than a few weeks may suggest a serious infection
• Very difficult to prevent breathing in the fungus
• Avoid dusty places
• Stay inside during storms and close windows
• Wear an N95 respirator in dusty areas
• Avoid yard work, gardening, and digging
• Fungal pulmonary disease
• Fungus lives in soil of Southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America
• Difficult to prevent exposure
• Rare infection
• Can affect anyone, but certain groups are higher risk
• 100,000 infections each year
• Healthcare providers and laboratories must report Valley fever cases
• The CDC works to raise awareness
• The CDC is currently researching treatment
• Identify spheres of the fungus in tissue or fluids
• Serological tests and DNA probes
• X-rays and CT scans identify Valley fever pneumonia
• Whole Genome Sequencing and Advanced Molecular Detection
• Inhalation
• Fungus is carried by the wind (farming, construction, earthquakes)
• Valley fever is not contagious