Coffee Connections resumed on September 15 following its summer break. Guest speaker Dr. Craig Rundbaken, pulmonologist and author of Valley Fever: Silent Epidemic, shared valuable insights about Valley Fever, a soil-borne fungal infection endemic to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Here are five key takeaways from his presentation:
- Common symptoms include fatigue, cough, fever, muscle/joint pain, and headache. “Desert rheumatism” is a term used to describe the arthritic symptoms that can accompany Valley Fever.
- Approximately one-third of people diagnosed with Valley Fever develop a rash, which is an immune response to the fungus within the body and does not indicate that the fungus is present on the skin.
- Valley fever cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. However, the fungus affects a wide range of animals, from dogs, for whom a vaccine is being developed, to dolphins, which may be exposed when windborne spores reach coastal waters.
- Researchers are working to develop a rapid finger-prick test for Valley Fever, similar to the blood glucose tests commonly used by people with diabetes.
- Recovery from Valley Fever typically results in lifelong immunity to future infection.
From advances in testing to the development of new vaccines, ongoing research continues to improve our understanding of Valley Fever and offers hope for earlier diagnosis and better outcomes in the future.
Until these advances become widely available, awareness and prevention remain key tools for reducing risk. Dr. Rundbaken noted that some people choose to wear an N95 mask when spending time in dusty environments, whether during monsoon-season dust storms or while gardening and other activities that disturb the soil.
Don’t miss our future Coffee Connections sessions, which are led by experienced specialists and cover a wide array of health-related topics. Watch your email for notifications of upcoming sessions or visit our Upcoming Events page.
