Latest news with #Coccidioidomycosis
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A fungus in Utah soil can lead to lung infections — but officials say there is ‘no reason to panic'
ST. GEORGE, Utah () — If you have been suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms lately (but you don't have pneumonia), you may have ingested Health officials say it's more common than you may think, especially in southern Utah. 'Washington County has the highest rate of Valley fever in the state,' Dr. Katharine S. Walter told 'And we think it is severely underreported compared to parts of California and Arizona, which are very well known to be endemic for the fungus.' , or Coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal lung infection that like fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, and a rash. It occurs after spores from Coccidioides — which live in soil and dust in — are breathed in. If the FDA removes fluoride supplements, are there other options to protect teeth? Dentist weighs in Dr. Walter and Dr. Ginamarie Foglia — both epidemiologists — presented during a lecture series in southern Utah about the effects of Valley fever and concerns related to the changing environment. The aim of the event was to spread awareness of the prevalence of Valley fever, not to spread fear. 'There's no reason to panic,' Foglia told 'It's manageable. It's just that many people don't know what it is.' Foglia said that while Utahns should not panic about the potential for these types of infections, it is important to know what the risks and symptoms are. An understanding of the symptoms could help people better manage the infection. 'Many times it's seen as a bacterial infection, and people are given antibiotics, they don't get better,' Foglia said. 'So, it's really to alert people and to make them aware that it exists here.' The says many people who have Valley fever experience mild symptoms, and 'often get better without medication within a few months.' In some cases, severe infections may spread to other parts of the body, and cause patients to need more long-term treatment. 'This is a disease we should all be worried about because everyone is at risk, and the people at most risk are the people who work outside, who are constantly exposed to dust and soil, like agricultural workers — construction workers,' Walter said. Valley fever occurs after spores from Coccidioides — which live in soil and dust in — are breathed in. When that soil or dust is disturbed (such as during construction or a windstorm), the risk of breathing in those spores increases. The CDC reports that many people do not get sick from breathing in the spores, and most people who do fall ill get better on their own. However, for developing severe forms of Valley fever. If symptoms of Valley fever last longer than a week, officials recommend visiting a healthcare provider. Valley fever is , according to the CDC. Between 10,000 and 20,000 cases are reported to the CDC each year, with most cases reported in Arizona and California. 'Cases frequently are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley fever,' the CDC says. Foglia and Walter said many people often receive a delayed Valley fever diagnosis after initially being diagnosed with a bacterial infection. Walter also spoke about the potential role played by climate change in expanding the areas where the fungus can be found. 'We think that with a changing climate, that the area where the fungus can thrive and survive is likely to expand and change, and that's one thing we really need to study,' Walter said. The CDC says it is 'very difficult to avoid breathing in the fungus' — but there are still ways to help reduce exposure. For example, the CDC recommends using air filtration methods when indoors and avoiding areas (like construction sites) that have a lot of dust. Wearing an N95 respirator when around dust may also help, the CDC says. For more detailed explanations about Valley fever and prevention methods, . Joseph Degolyer contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make remarkable new discovery after studying fast-spreading disease: 'Dogs are sentinels'
Dogs aren't only man's best friend, they can potentially offer humans greater insight into valley fever, a fungal infection plaguing the respiratory health of dogs and humans in the Western United States. Valley fever, also known as Coccidioidomycosis, is a lung infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the Coccidioides fungus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fungus lives in moist soil conditions commonly found in the Western United States and parts of Mexico, and Central and South America. Digging into soil containing the fungus spores can cause them to become airborne, which can then enter the respiratory system and cause infection. Dogs who like to dig into the soil are "more at risk of getting the disease," per Sierra Sun Times. However, humans and other mammals, including cattle, horses, llamas and alpacas, and apes and monkeys, have also been found to contract the disease. Among recorded valley fever cases in animals, though, dogs constitute the majority, according to the University of Arizona. A group of scientists at the University of California, Davis studied how the disease manifests in dog populations in the United States, gathering data trends to extrapolate disease risk in humans. The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, is one of the largest scientific reviews on animal data for valley fever. Blood test results of 834,899 dogs over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022 that were sourced from diagnostic laboratories that conducted animal blood tests for valley fever were analyzed. From this data, the scientists were able to map where positive cases of valley fever occurred — 91.5% of cases occurred in Arizona, 3.7% in California, 2.6% in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, collectively, and 0.6% in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, combined. The remaining states within the country made up 1.3% of positive cases. Observing positive cases in states where the disease has not yet become endemic, Jane Sykes, lead author of the UC Davis study, told Sierra Sun Times, "We should be closely watching those states because there could be under-recognition of the emerging fungal disease in humans." Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Exposure to the disease and occurring symptoms may vary from person to person, which include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, rashes, and muscle or joint pain, but severe cases may cause long-term lung problems. "Dogs are sentinels for human infections," Sykes said, per Sierra Sun Times. Valley fever may be exacerbated by drought conditions, which can lead to dry soil that can be picked up and dispersed across the land by strong winds, as a study in the journal Environmental International, shared by Science Direct, explained. The fungal spore particles are then airborne, posing a health risk to humans and dogs who may accidentally inhale them. Intense heavy rainfall also creates the ideal conditions for the fungal spores to thrive, which tends to lead to bigger surges in positive cases when the rain returns, per UC San Diego. Scientists have found that soil moisture across the globe has been depleting over decades. Along with drying soil, over 130 U.S. locations have experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity since 1970, creating high-risk flood zones. Reducing national risk for valley fever includes increased awareness of the disease and hypervigilance in high-risk states. Studying dogs, as this study has found, may help humans better protect and defend against the disease. Taking action to protect the environment from rising global temperatures and the changing climate conditions that come with it may help reduce the frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and flooding, that increase the risk of disease. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
