Valley Fever: Research, Funding, and Future?
"Arizona state statistics show that reported cases of valley fever are at record levels. . . four times the five-year average for the (2006) January-April time period." (from research page at www.vfce.arizona.edu, accessed 18 March 2007)
At the forefront of cocci research, is the Valley Fever Center of Excellence, in Tucson, Arizona. Last year, their international symposium met in New York City. The official report is currently undergoing publication processing.
Valley fever is documented across the Western United States. Arizona's capitol city of Phoenix, as well as its entire Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties, reports the highest incident of cocci. Tucson's University of Arizona's Medical Center is home to the Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE), and teams up with the two clinic locations for Arizona Community Physicians. Together they track the occurrences and details of the valley fever cases in Arizona. All cocci lab tests are sent to the VFCE for analysis and documentation.
The Valley Fever Center for Excellence will hold their Seventh International Symposium on Coccidioidomycosis March 31st, 2007 at Arizona State University's Main Auditorium at the new Biodesign Institute on the Tempe, Arizona campus.
Main focus will be on this amazing fact: Over 85% of the valley fever cases, between 2001 and 2006, in Arizona occurred in only one year - 2006! The symposium will compile information on this "spike in numbers" of cases. They will also carry-out intense presentation and discussion of the "most unusual" cases in the Southwestern region of the United States. This is a long-term effort to better understand valley fever and research possibilities for vaccinations and cures.
Early in 2007, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano publicized her 2008-09 fiscal budget, with a "one-time increase of $1.8 million for Valley Fever research"(pp. 1 of article titled, Governor Proposes Valley Fever Fund, by Regina Ford, March 6, 2007, at www.gvn.com). Some of the funding is intended to reopen the clinical trials that halted at the University of Arizona because of lack of proper funding.
A fundraiser is being held this spring "hosted and underwritten by Bashas' and AJ's Fine Foods; Friday, April 6 at 6:00pm; $40.00 per person; Zelma Basha Salmari Gallery of Western and Native American Art at 22402 S. Basha Road, Chandler, Arizona . . . benefiting the University of Arizona Foundation's work on nikkomycin Z. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact Shirley Cole at (480) 948-0657 or Janice Arenofsky at (480) 831-9079." (from "fundraiser in Arizona" section of www.valleyfeversurvivor.com)
The 2007 season of dry, hot air is yet to descend upon the American Western States of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The winter season brought some much needed rains, so that might prove to bring a decrease in the number of valley fever cases this year.
However, the National Climatic Data Center's report of March 6th, 2007, indicates that the moisture did not last enough days to make a real dent in the drought conditions prevalent in the Southwestern United States. The general drought condition trend across the American Western States may contribute to the increased number of Valley Fever cases.
Bibliography:
www.gvn.com Green Valley News & Sun
www.valleyfeversurvivor.com Valley Fever Survivors
www.opa.medicine.arizona.edu The University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center
www.vfce.arizona.edu Valley Fever Center of Excellence, Tucson, Arizona
www.valleyfever.org Valley Fever Connections
www.mayoclinic.com Mayo Clinic
www.phoenix.about.com About Phoenix.Com
www.cdc.gov The Center for Disease Control
Published by Lynn Pritchett
Lynn's dedication to writing at Yahoo Network is inspired not only by her professional background in health care (pharmacy) and in education (grades K to 12 special needs & general classroom), but by her dai... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentI was diagnosed with Valley fever in 1978 when I lived down south in a Copper mining town in Arizona.
In 1993 I received medical care out of the country and had Hydrogen Peroxide IV and Chelation IV.
The Valley Fever was gone in a week. (My tests were posative for 15 years, very ill and they said my lungs were badly scared)
Tests have been negative since. Read my testimonial on the testimonial link at www.drcastillo.com.
thanks for the new worry--but forewarned is forearmed. I shall not visit the Southwest; I shall not eat tomatoes; I shall not eat spinach; I shall not eat beef ...unless I am very hungry. LOL
Have a great weekend.
Christine: The air in the desert is simply dry; not really unhealthy or healthy. In the cities, the same air quality problems exist there, as in every other U.S. city. Keep in mind MOST people in the desert do not ever show Valley Fever symptoms. The vulnerable ones are those who have other, underlying, health issues.
I never heard of this either. Started out thinking it was a real estate article and everyone wanted to live in the Valley. :)
I thought the air was supposed to be healthy there. Interesting article.
Wow, interesting!
You are a wealth of knowledge!
I've never heard of this, but that's not surprising since I live in Indiana. Great info for those who need to be aware of it.
Oh wow! Some other kind of illness to worry about. Bad news, but good article!