A headline like that could certainly explain Koo-Kook politics here, but it appears to be a serious topic -- a fungal respiratory illness endemic to Arizona that can, in its most severe cases, be debilitating and even deadly to residents and visitors: Valley fever.
Here's a report from soon-to-be "Fun Gal" Shaena Montanari
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"Hi, Shaena Montanari here, AZCIR’s investigative health reporter. Since last fall, I’ve been reporting on a fungal respiratory illness endemic to Arizona that can, in its most severe cases, be debilitating and even deadly to residents and visitors: Valley fever. . . .Scant state and federal funding have so far hampered efforts to better understand and prevent the growing impact of Valley fever, but a renewed push from congressional delegates from Arizona and California seeks to change that. On Thursday, Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema joined Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to introduce the “Finding Orphan-disease Remedies With Antifungal Research and Development Act,” known as the FORWARD Act. If passed, it could authorize $500 million for research on fungal diseases, including Valley fever. The senate bill from Sens. Kelly, Sinema and Feinstein follows the October introduction of the FORWARD Act to the U.S. House by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who introduced the FORWARD Act for the third time since 2018. =========================================================== RELATEDEvidence points to Valley fever as a growing problem in Arizona, yet little is known about who is most impacted by a pathogen that now sickens more people here than in any other state. Research shows the most serious form of the illness disproportionately impacts people of color, and likely those who work outdoors, but insufficient data collection and a dearth of state and federal funding further shield the public from fully understanding the dangers the disease poses. READ MORE >> Arizona parents representing various geographic areas, income levels, and racial and ethnic backgrounds reported changing jobs, turning down jobs, decreasing their hours, forgoing promotions or leaving the workforce entirely as a result of inconsistent or unaffordable care. READ MORE >> A Valley fever vaccine for dogs appears to provide a safe and effective defense against the fungal illness that sickens thousands of pets in Arizona each year, and it also marks a significant milestone that could lead to a similar vaccine for humans. READ MORE >> |
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[...] The disease is caused by fungi in the genus Coccidioides that are found in soil and dust, and can easily become airborne and inhaled by people. In 2019, 39 Arizonans died from Valley fever, and in 2021 more than 11,000 people in the state were diagnosed with the illness. In recent years, Arizona has had the highest rate of Valley fever infections in the nation, my reporting showed.
My recent reporting also explored how scientific research—old and new—indicates that the most serious form of the disease, known as disseminated Valley fever, tends to manifest disproportionately in people of color, meaning there are indicators that genetics could play a part in severity of disease symptoms for specific groups of people.
Recently, a vaccine for the disease was shown to be effective in dogs. This new research paves the way for the development of a human version of the vaccine. But according to Dr. John Galgiani, the director of the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence, getting to the “finish line” of a human vaccine could take another $200 million.
The legislation now making its way through Congress would provide $20 million each year for five years for epidemiological and clinical research on fungal diseases. The funding, which would pass through the National Institutes of Health, would include research on both treatments and vaccines for Valley fever. Additional funding would also be used to support activities such as a fungal disease working group composed of federal members, doctors, scientists and patients.
I will continue to follow any developments with this legislation as it makes its way through Congress. As always, I welcome your tips and feedback on this topic or any other health issue in Arizona that has caught your attention at shaena.montanari@azcir.org.
Thanks for following my work,
Shaena Montanari
Investigative Reporter — Health
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
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