Infections with valley fever are on the rise in Arizona. What you need to know about the dangers and the vaccine race is provided here.#Health #Arizona #News #PhoenixAZ
This year’s sharp increase of Valley fever infections in Phoenix, Arizona, and California is a serious public health concern.Nearly 4,000 more cases have been documented in Arizona, a 45% increase from the same period last year. Infections have increased by roughly 600 in California. Although the majority of cases are mild, serious infections can occur and occasionally result in death. Since there is presently no vaccine for humans, scientists are working feverishly to find a solution to this expanding problem.
What Is Valley Fever?
Coccidioidomycosis, the clinical name for valley fever, is a lung infection brought on by breathing fungus spores. When dust and dirt are disturbed, as frequently occurs in hot, dry areas, these minute spores are discharged into the atmosphere. Coccidioides, the fungus that causes it, is most prevalent in arid regions, especially in the Southwest. The majority of infections go away on their own, but some people get serious or persistent illnesses that need medical care.
Usually manifesting one to three weeks following exposure, symptoms may include headaches, muscle or joint discomfort, fever, exhaustion, coughing, and shortness of breath. Diagnosis can be difficult because these symptoms can be confused with those of other disorders. Transmission of the infection requires exposure to spores; it cannot be transferred from one person to another.
Diagnosing and Treating Valley Fever
A particular blood test is necessary for an accurate diagnosis of Valley fever because the infection is frequently missed by standard laboratory screens. Effective therapy depends on early detection. Antibacterial or antiviral drugs, which are ineffectual against the fungal component of Valley fever, may be used in cases that are misdiagnosed.
The majority of cases go away on their own, but patients with severe infections or compromised immune systems could need antifungal drugs for several months. Rarely, the fungus can spread from the lungs to other areas of the body, including the skin, bones, or brain, resulting in disseminated coccidioidomycosis, a potentially fatal illness. Up to 2% of people have this severe version of the condition.
Environmental and Climate Factors Behind the Rise
Environmental changes, notably the worsening effects of climate change, are associated to the dramatic rise of Valley fever incidence. The fungus prefers hot, dry weather, which was exacerbated this year in places like Phoenix, Arizona, by record-breaking summer temperatures and a dearth of precipitation. About half of all instances in the United States occur in Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix.
Fungal spores are released as a result of both natural occurrences like wind and dust storms and human activities that disrupt soil, such as farming, construction, and hiking. Experts caution that within this century, the fungus may spread to regions as far north as the Canadian border due to shifting climatic patterns.
Progress Toward a Vaccine
The first Valley fever vaccine is being developed by researchers at the University of Arizona. Although the original version was created for dogs, there is potential for future human use. Between 6 and 10 percent of canines in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties in Arizona are thought to get Valley fever each year. Although the virus does not transmit between species, animals are exposed to the spores by inhalation, just like humans.
As the Valley fever endemic area continues to expand, there is a growing need to produce a human vaccine. Work to modify the canine vaccination for human usage is being funded by a National Institutes of Health funding. According to experts, the need for a vaccination will only grow as the number of cases climbs.
Associated Subjects: Health | Arizona | California
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