2 | Livingwell a-z | Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Valley fever:
“Two-thirds of all valley fever cases in the United States are found in Arizona, and most are along the ‘valley fever corridor’ that runs along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.
a major health problem
Funding, awareness needed to beat ‘Arizona’s disease’ By Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell
Valley fever — or coccidioidomycosis, the medical term for the disease — is endemic to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, with about half of the cases originating in Maricopa County alone. The mildest form of the disease is pneumonia, but the more dangerous form, cocci meningitis, can be deadly and requires lifetime therapy. Symptoms of valley fever, which usually appear within three weeks of exposure but can last weeks or months, include: • Cough • Difficulty breathing • Pneumonia • Fatigue
• • • •
Chest pain Fever Night sweats Weight loss
DID YOU KNOW? Canines and valley fever When it comes to valley fever, dogs are similar to people in terms of how many get the disease and what specific level they get. Because of that, Galgiani and Lisa Shubitz, D.V.M., a veterinarian and University of Arizona associate research professor, and others are working on a valley fever vaccine they hope to get approved to try on dogs and then eventually take to the human population. Pet owners can face costly bills if their pup gets a valley fever diagnosis. In fact, Shubitz estimates that dog owners in Arizona spend about $60 million each year to diagnose and treat their canine companions suffering from valley fever.
Livingwella-z
People who contract valley fever also can be asymptomatic, according to John Galgiani, M.D., director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence. The Center is a partnership between St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, The University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix and the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, which has two locations – one in Tucson and one in Phoenix on St. Joseph’s campus.
Dust storms one culprit
The Valley of the Sun’s countless — and occasionally epic — dust storms likely are contributing to an increase in valley fever cases. Leno Thomas, M.D., a pediatric pulmonologist with Banner Children’s Specialists, said while no one dust storm can be attributed to an infection, it’s best to stay indoors when a dust storm is approaching. If that’s not possible, he suggested using a mask or scarf to limit inhalation of dust and ‘cocci’ spores or, if inside a vehicle, using the air conditioner’s recirculation feature to limit exposure to outside irritants.
Anti-fungal medications
Clarisse Tsang, an epidemiologist with the Arizona Department of Health Services, said a number of valley fever patients will require an anti-fungal medication such as the drug fluconazole, a pill that’s taken orally. In recent months, Galgiani noted, that drug has spiked in price, leading to additional strain for patients. Those folks might be glad to hear that Galgiani is working on a new drug treatment called nikkomycin Z, or ‘NikZ’. Initially developed by the Bayer AG pharmaceutical company in the 1970s, NikZ was originally intended to suppress fungal growth on oranges by inhibiting an enzyme in the fungus, Galgiani said. The drug was later licensed to a second
March 2014 | Vol. 4, No. 3
Living Well A-Z publishes on the first Wednesday of the month. From A to Z, we tackle a broad range of health issues and offer resources to find more specific information. For questions concerning content in this publication, please contact Editor Paula Hubbs Cohen.
People that have lived in Phoenix for 12 years have a 50-50 chance of already being infected whether they know it or not.” —John Galgiani, M.D., director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence
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pharmaceutical company which began initial safety trials but then went bankrupt. In 2005, The University of Arizona assumed sponsorship of NikZ.
not-too-distant future. “We’re at a tipping point,” Galgiani said, “and there are all sorts of ways to improve things if we can find the funding.”
Research money needed
More info
Arizona Department of Health Services: Galgiani said the Valley Fever Center for azdhs.gov, 602-542-1025 Excellence has captured $7 million in grant proposals and has been given Valley Fever Center for Excellence: $2.4 million from a New York-based founvfce.arizona.edu, 602-406-8253, dation, but he estimates needing at least valleyfevercenter@dignityhealth.org $40 million to see the drug make it to the Arizona Victims of Valley Fever: consumer marketplace. arizonavictimsofvalleyfever.org. In the meantime, he and his team have This all-volunteer nonprofit organization conducted multi-dose safety trials, but offers free seminars about the disease. their supply of the drug has run out. With Contact Pat White (623-584-8331; assistance from the National Institutes of Health, Galgiani said they should get more pat-valleyfever@live.com) or Marvin manufactured this year and are looking Freeman (602-242-9527; forward to enrolling patients in clinical mmfcreate@aol.com). trials in spring of 2015. The organization is working on a docuExperts remain hopeful they can mentary about valley fever and is looking change the course of the disease in the to interview individuals with the disease.
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