PHOENIX -- We hear so much about swine flu, but did you know there is a dangerous disease literally floating around in Arizona’s air all the time?
You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it, but it CAN be just as dangerous as anthrax. It’s called Valley Fever.
Valley Fever has been around for thousands of years and was discovered in Argentina.
This disease is classified as a biohazard, level III, the same as Anthrax -- just below level IV, which is Ebola.
“Valley fever is a fungus that is actually found in the soil of the desert Southwest and what happens is the wind blows the soil up and when you breathe in even a single spore, you can get Valley Fever," said Arizona Department of Health Services Epidemiologist Dr. Rebbecca Sununshine
The Valley Fever spore, called Coccidiodes Immitis/Posaii, is the most regulated spore known to mankind.
There are three stages to the disease. Acute (mild), Chronic (severe), and Disseminated (very severe to fatal).
"Disseminated Valley Fever ... that's when the disease spreads beyond the lungs," Sununshine said. "It can get into the blood stream, into the joints, into the skin, and even the brain and spinal cord and that's very serious and can be fatal if not treated."
There have been more than 8,000 cases of Valley Fever across the United States in 2009.
Here in Arizona, more then 6,000 cases have been reported, with 30 deaths.
Valley Fever is found only in the southwest part of the United Sates, including most of Arizona, parts of California, Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico.
It’s a disease that can affect anyone, even small children. To this day, there is no cure for Valley Fever.
Once infected with Valley Fever, you cannot be an organ donor.
When one reaches the age of 60, they are twice as likely to be infected.
Filipinos and African Americans are at the highest risk of disseminated Valley Fever.
Dr. Sunushine says that one of the biggest problems is that people don’t even know they have it.
“People wait 50 days, almost two months to see the doctor," Sununshine said. "We also know that it takes an average of about three doctor's visit's before people are diagnosed. People who have a cough, shortness of breath, fatigue for more than two weeks, should ask to get tested for Valley Fever."
“The tests available for valley fever are simple blood tests, are easy to get and that will help your doctor know what to do next,” Sununshine said.
Recent Arizona statistics indicate that those with new Valley Fever infections reported to the state miss an average of a month of work, and those who are hospitalized spend an average of $50,000 each on medical expenses.
Pat White of Surprise and Marv Freeman of Phoenix were both diagnosed with vVlley Fever more than five years ago.
White talked about how she felt when she was first diagnosed.
"For me, the first year that I was ill, I slept 23 hours a day," White said. And I was up for one hour a day to eat, take medicine, and bathe. The state will tell you a list of things that happen and fatigue is the number one complaint. It’s a terrible fatigue and you are non functional. Just getting up to go to the bathroom can take every inch of strength out of you.”
Freeman's biggest battle was confusion and equilibrium and he credits his wife for saving his life.
“If I didn’t have my wife as my advocate who walked me through this entire process and saw that I saw the right people, I would probably not be alive today," Freeman said.
Both Pat and Marv have been on the proper medication now and both say that it is nice to feel like themselves again.
Since being diagnosed, White founded, and is executive director and lecturer of Arizona Victims of Valley fever. It’s a non profit organization and support group.
Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. at Chez Nous in Sun City West, and it’s free.
The
Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona provides education and support to physicians and the general public, and needs funds to continue research into a new drug to treat, a vaccine to prevent, & new diagnostic tests to more accurately diagnose this disease.
