Bakersfield teen loses battle with valley fever

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Bakersfield teen loses battle with valley fever

San Mercury News - CA*

The Associated Press

08/02/2008

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—A 17-year-old Bakersfield girl has lost a two-

year battle with valley fever, a usually non-fatal illness caused by

fungus spores in the soil.

Jacalynn died Friday at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital.

The former track runner began suffering headaches and vomiting at

the end of her freshman year. She was hospitalized after a lesion

developed on her nose and her weight dropped from 180 to 96 pounds.

The fungus attacked her internal organs, skin, bones, brain and

blood. She also contracted pancreatitis and meningitis.

Valley fever is found in the San Joaquin Valley and other Western

states. Only 1 percent of people who contract it suffer serious

illness.