Latest news with #fever
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Could dogs help predict spread of Valley fever in people?
Researchers in California believe dogs might be able to predict the spread of Valley fever, which has spiked nationwide, likely due to climate change. With more than a third of the contiguous U.S. in a drought, there has been a surge in the dangerous airborne flu-like disease in humans. But Valley fever is also common in dogs who dig deep in dirt and sniff close to the ground, according to University of California researchers Jane Sykes and Simon Camponuri. They published a recent study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores from Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the soil and dust in certain regions of the United States and the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Valley fever does not spread between people or between people and animals. But, Sykes and Camponuri believe the dog data could be used as a warning sign for where humans should look out for the disease. Symptoms of Valley fever range from fever, cough, and chest pain to severe complications, including pneumonia and meningitis, UC Berkeley public health researchers say. Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs, the CDC said. Sykes and Camponuri evaluated almost 835,000 blood antibody tests taken from dogs nationwide between 2012 and 2022. Their research concluded that nearly 40% of dogs tested positive for the disease. The study said since dogs are closely associated with humans, the canines "serve as rough proxies" for human environmental exposures. "Dogs are good sentinels for human infections," Sykes, a University of California, Davis, professor, told USA TODAY. "They can help us understand not only the epidemiology of the disease, but they're also models to help us understand the disease in humans." Is change coming?: An omega block is ruling our weather. When will it finally budge? About 60 million U.S. households own at least one dog, representing nearly half of all pet-owning households in the country, according to 2024 statistics by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Sykes and Camponuri tracked positive results by location. Their research showed that the presence of Valley fever in dogs spiked nearly six times from just 2.4% of U.S. counties in 2012 to 12.4% in 2022. The study also found that the Valley fever cases in dogs spread over time, mostly centered in Arizona and California. Valley fever does not spread between people or between people and animals. But, Sykes and Camponuri believe the dog data could be used as a warning sign for where humans should look out for the disease. "We'd like more communication and awareness about Valley fever between public health and animal care practitioners, clinicians and environmental health scientists." Camponuri, a University of California, Berkeley researcher, told USA TODAY. Valley fever cases in humans tripled over the past two decades, according to another study released in March that Camponuri also researched. "Our findings emphasize the importance of adapting public health mitigation strategies to changing climate conditions," Camponuri said. "By understanding shifts in transmission season timing, we can take proactive steps to warn the public about increases in disease risk when they are most likely to occur." The CDC reports it receives between 10,000 to 20,000 reports of human cases of Valley fever annually. However, Sykes thinks the actual number of cases may be at least 33-fold higher since many states don't require reporting. The CDC considers Valley fever endemic in parts of six states, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Sykes told USA TODAY that their study found Valley fever in dogs in those states, but also in several more Western states including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. "We are also finding cases in states where valley fever is not considered endemic by the CDC," Sykes said. "Some of that could be due to people traveling with their dogs across state borders. We also know that these states have environmental and soil conditions suitable for the survival of the disease. "We should be closely watching those states because there could be under-recognition of the fungal disease in humans, so many cases get missed or misdiagnosed," Sykes added. Price for pets: The cost to own a dog or cat can be extensive. It's about to get more expensive. The study also shows the spike in dog cases was correlated with "hot spots" for human Valley fever, Sykes said, confirming its accuracy. "We still need to do more studies to predict the incidence and frequency of the disease in humans where we have no current information," Sykes said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dogs could help predict spread of this fever in humans
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dogs could help predict spread of Valley fever in humans: Study
California scientists have determined that dogs might be able to help predict the spread of a dangerous fungus, which has surged in recent years due to the impacts of climate change. Drought conditions across the Golden State have been ramping up the dispersal of a soil-dwelling organism called coccidioides, which causes the flu-like disease known as coccidioidomycosis, or 'Valley fever.' The disease, which can cause grave or even deadly complications, has risen sharply among California residents over the past two decades: Reported cases tripled from 2014 to 2018 and again from 2018 to 2022. Valley fever was previously concentrated in parts of Arizona and California's lower San Joaquin Valley. Rather than passing from person to person, the disease develops from the direct inhalation of these fungal spores. But Valley fever is also common in animals, particularly dogs that dig in the dirt, according to researchers from the University of California, who published a study on Thursday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The scientists assessed nearly 835,000 blood antibody tests taken from dogs nationwide between 2012 and 2022 — and found that 40 percent tested positive for the disease. 'Dogs are sentinels for human infections,' lead author Jane Sykes, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. 'They can help us understand not just the epidemiology of the disease but they're also models to help us understand the disease in people,' she added. Along with colleagues at UC Berkeley, Sykes mapped positive results by location and found that the presence of Valley fever in dogs surged from just 2.4 percent of U.S. counties in 2012 to 12.4 percent in 2022. 'We were also finding cases in states where valley fever is not considered endemic,' Sykes said. 'We should be closely watching those states because there could be under-recognition of the emerging fungal disease in humans.' The sheer number of cases, the authors explained, cannot be attributed to dogs visiting other states, since the animals travel far less frequently than humans do. Dog cases were also correlated with human Valley fever 'hot spots,' per the study. Arizona was responsible for 91.5 percent of positive tests, followed by California at 3.7 percent; Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas at 2.6 percent combined; and Washington, Oregon and Idaho at 0.6 percent combined. The remaining states reported far fewer positive results, with 1.3 percent combined, the researchers found. The authors also determined that dog breeds that tend to dig, such as medium-to-large animals and terriers, are more likely to get Valley fever. They also exhibit some of the same symptoms of the disease that humans experience, including a cough and lung infection. The fungus can spread to the bones, brain and skin and require lifelong antifungal injections, and can potentially result in death, the scientists warned. By learning more about Valley fever in dogs, Sykes suggested that humans could develop new tests or routes for treatment — potentially preventing misdiagnosis or undiagnosed disease among themselves. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
10-04-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Dogs could help predict spread of Valley fever in humans: Study
California scientists have determined that dogs might be able to help predict the spread of a dangerous fungus, which has surged in recent years due to the impacts of climate change. Drought conditions across the Golden State have been ramping up the dispersal of a soil-dwelling organism called coccidioides, which causes the flu-like disease known as coccidioidomycosis, or 'Valley fever.' The disease, which can cause grave or even deadly complications, has risen sharply among California residents over the past two decades: Reported cases tripled from 2014 to 2018 and again from 2018 to 2022. Valley fever was previously concentrated in parts of Arizona and California's lower San Joaquin Valley. Rather than passing from person to person, the disease develops from the direct inhalation of these fungal spores. But Valley fever is also common in animals, particularly dogs that dig in the dirt, according to researchers from the University of California, who published a study on Thursday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The scientists assessed nearly 835,000 blood antibody tests taken from dogs nationwide between 2012 and 2022 — and found that 40 percent tested positive for the disease. 'Dogs are sentinels for human infections,' lead author Jane Sykes, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. 'They can help us understand not just the epidemiology of the disease but they're also models to help us understand the disease in people,' she added. Along with colleagues at UC Berkeley, Sykes mapped positive results by location and found that the presence of Valley fever in dogs surged from just 2.4 percent of U.S. counties in 2012 to 12.4 percent in 2022. 'We were also finding cases in states where valley fever is not considered endemic,' Sykes said. 'We should be closely watching those states because there could be under-recognition of the emerging fungal disease in humans.' The sheer number of cases, the authors explained, cannot be attributed to dogs visiting other states, since the animals travel far less frequently than humans do. Dog cases were also correlated with human Valley fever 'hot spots,' per the study. Arizona was responsible for 91.5 percent of positive tests, followed by California at 3.7 percent; Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas at 2.6 percent combined; and Washington, Oregon and Idaho at 0.6 percent combined. The remaining states reported far fewer positive results, with 1.3 percent combined, the researchers found. The authors also determined that dog breeds that tend to dig, such as medium-to-large animals and terriers, are more likely to get Valley fever. They also exhibit some of the same symptoms of the disease that humans experience, including a cough and lung infection. The fungus can spread to the bones, brain and skin and require lifelong anti-fungal injections, and can potentially result in death, the scientists warned. By learning more about Valley fever in dogs, Sykes suggested that humans could develop new tests or routes for treatment — potentially preventing misdiagnosis or undiagnosed disease among themselves.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health Experts Reveal How They Stay Informed After Trump's Government Cuts — And How You Can, Too
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency has started dismantling vital federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who has a history of spreading anti-vaccine conspiracy theories— is the secretary of Health and Human Services, which oversees 11 operating divisions, including the CDC, the FDA and the National Institutes of Health. The public isn't receiving the same level of food recall alerts and timely information on disease outbreaks. If a staffing shortage means no one is available to respond to a health issue, then what should people do? When misinformation circulates and we can't trust our government institutions to be transparent, how do we navigate our health? 'Being informed is a radical act of self-care right now,' said Cynthia Plotch, a reproductive justice advocate and founder ofWinx Health. 'Misinformation is rampant and further being amplified to exhaust us and overwhelm us. By staying educated on the issues and actions that matter to you, you're not only advocating and protecting your own health but participating in a form of resistance. Knowledge is power and helps make empowered decisions for your health. This is not just a form of protection, but a radical act to stand up for your rights and wellbeing.' We talked to four health experts to find out how they're getting their information, and how we can use their strategies in our daily lives. So far, overhauls by Trump and DOGE have led to the layoffs of about5,200 CDC employees. The CDC announced it will no longer process data about transgender identity, and it will no longer fund theGlobal Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, aka Gremlin. According toBloomberg, Gremlin is 'a grouping of more than 700 international labs that test about 500,000 patient samples annually' and monitors the prevalence of pathogens like COVID-19, RSV, dengue, yellow fever and Ebola. In other bad news, the FDAcanceled its annual meeting to select the flu strains for next year's flu shot, and the United States has pulled out of the World Health Organization. As of early March, more than 100 people in Texas hadmeasles, and an unvaccinated child had died. New Mexico and New Jersey have also experienced measles outbreaks. 'Honestly, I'm pessimistic,' said David Williams, president of Health Business Group. 'I don't think the traditional approaches of requiring vaccination for school and work will be accepted in today's political environment. In fact, such requirements are likely to be reversed and we will even see state laws stating that mandates cannot be implemented at the local level.' Local public health officials and health care providers remain trustworthy, he added. 'Individual family physicians, nurse practitioners and pediatricians are also influential with their patients, regardless of political leanings,' Williams said. 'Public health officials communicate through local resources like town newsletters, local TV, radio and print media, and their own social media accounts. Individual providers communicate through one-on-one visits and are backed up by local community health centers and hospitals.' Lack of women's health information has become an issue, too. 'Access to sexual education and reproductive rights are being wiped from government health websites, exacerbating the problems that stem from the country's lack of sex education,' Plotch said. 'Fifty percent of women [who live in states with abortion bans] think emergency contraception isillegal, and even more —75% — believe it's the same as the medical abortion pill. It's not! Access to free information to combat common misconceptions and empower women to make informed decisions over their own health is more critical than ever.' She recommended reading free women's health articles onReal Talk and following writer Jessica Valenti. Katie Diasti, a menstrual educator and founder of Viv for Your V, acknowledged how essential government agencies are to women. 'Health reports, like that from the NIH this summer that revealedtoxic metals in tampons, allow users to make informed health decisions and hold brands and manufacturers accountable,' Diasti said. 'As government resources are slashed, especially in women's health, some might take it as an opportunity to cut corners. It's critical to find products and routines you trust with trusted materials, transparent reporting, and that help uplift your wellbeing. Be vigilant in reading product descriptions. Look for transparent materials and ingredients.' In just a couple of months, the government's actions have already done great harm to the public's trust. Praxis Pacisci CEO Stacey B. Lee, a professor of health care law at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, studies how policy decisions impact public health. 'What we're seeing right now is deeply concerning — not just because of who's in charge but also because of the long-term consequences of weakening public health infrastructure,' Lee said. 'RFK's past rhetoric has already emboldened anti-science movements. His leadership may translate that into actual policy.' Lee has been doing a lot to keep her family safe. She keeps a health preparation checklist based on emerging disease risks from the WHO, CDC and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and subscribes to real-life health alerts from Consumer Reports and University Extension Services. The best we can do is stay informed and not follow people who spread misinformation, especially from politicians. Trust local public health officials and global organizations like WHO, and stay on top of vaccines. 'This moment isn't just about RFK Jr. or the CDC cuts,' Lee said. 'It's about whether we allow science-based health policy to be systematically dismantled. If this administration continues prioritizing ideology over research, we will see rising disease outbreaks, eroding health care trust, and disproportionate harm to vulnerable communities. When federal health leadership falters, we need to build resilience at every other level, from our personal choices to our community engagement. This isn't just about surviving the current administration's health policies. It's about preserving the infrastructure of public health for generations to come.' RFK Jr. Performs Astonishing 180 On Vaccines After Years Of Misinformation RFK Jr. Suggests These Supplements Can Help Measles Treatment. Here's What Medical Experts Say. After RFK Jr.'s Measles Flip-Flop, Here's What Still Worries Doctors About The Current Outbreak
