Valley fever cases up in Riverside County

February 24, 2011

5:48 PM, Feb. 22, 2011 | Comments

Riverside-County?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Riverside County saw a 58 percent jump in the number of " valley fever " cases

last year, mirroring a state trend that has health officials puzzled.

California saw double the number of cases last year, from roughly 2,000 in 2009

to more than 4,000 in 2010, according to preliminary state data.

Riverside County over the same time jumped from 67 to 106 cases.

" It's too soon to say whether or not we can expect more at this time, " said

Barbara Cole, director for disease control for Riverside County Department of

Public Health.

Cole did not have a breakdown of where the cases have occurred in the county.

This year so far, Riverside County has only had one confirmed case.

Valley fever is contracted by inhaling a fungus spore.

About 40 percent of those who come in contact with the fungus experience

persistent flu-like symptoms such as a cough, chest aches or muscle pain.

" When you do have flu-like symptoms, it's not always the flu, " said Duc Vugia,

infectious diseases chief with the California Department of Public Health.

In 1 percent of cases, exposure to the fungus can result in death, Vugia said.

The fungus is just part of the soil in the central valley and Southern

California.

Heavy spring rains followed by dry summers and a windy autumn are thought to

contribute to the increase, but a change in state reporting last year could also

explain the jump, Vugia said.

There is no vaccine available for valley fever.

Those with immune compromised systems such as HIV and cancer patients or the

elderly are most at risk.

Health officials recommend high-risk groups stay indoors on windy days or wear a

mask when outside.

In 2000, California saw an uptick in valley fever that peaked in 2006 with 3,000

cases. Before that, the last outbreak was in the early 1990s, Vugia said.

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