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In rare cases, Valley fever can develop into meningitis, which is fatal if untreated, and could lead to lifelong anti-fungal treatment, according to the CDC.
“When people have disseminated infections that’s spreading to the joints, the bones, as well as the brain, more intense courses of anti-fungal treatment, and potentially other treatments, are needed for those people,” Pastula said.
How do I prevent Valley fever?
There are currently no vaccines that protect against Valley fever, although scientists are continuing to work on a vaccine, the CDC said.
It can be difficult to avoid breathing in the fungus in areas where it is prevalent, but there are steps people can take to reduce their exposure, according to the experts.
“If you are not immunocompromised, do your best to not get exposed to large amounts of dust, in general, especially if you’re in those areas of California and Arizona,” Lee said. “If you are immunocompromised, I would really think about where you’re going and what you’re doing. Potentially, you could wear something like a mask.”
MORE: Washington state experiencing 1st known outbreak of potentially deadly fungus: Health officials
The CDC also recommends using air filtration measures indoors and cleaning injuries well with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection.
Pastula said it’s important for people to educate themselves on the fungi because climate change may cause Valley fever to appear in other areas of the U.S.
“Climate change might be playing a role in where [the fungus] might be living because this fungus has evolved to a specific ecologic niche, and if that niche expands because of climate change, we’re going to see [it] potentially expand to ranges that hadn’t been before,” he said.
What you need to know about Valley fever after 19 infected at California music festival originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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Publish date : 2024-09-06 06:45:00
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