[meteorite-list] Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) Mohave desert risk for meteorite hunters and rockhounders et al
From: Lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu <Lebofsky_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:54:43 -0700 Message-ID: <56e5902dc9d8aad3bf9865a4f7c0a85e.squirrel_at_webmail.lpl.arizona.edu> Since some of you do come to Tucson, if you live in Tucson, it is likely you will eventually get valley fever. Larry Dear List, > Ran across this tidbit about an unknown (to me) RISK FACTOR while Mohave > meteorite hunting (in a article about fossil bugs): > http://inyo.coffeecup.com/site/barstowfossils/barstowfossils.html > > Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) Mohave desert risk for meteorite hunters > and rockhounders et al > "And now for the obligatory words of caution. Endemic to the Mojave Desert > of California and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas, Nevada, region > by the way, is Valley Fever. This is a potentially serious illness called, > scientifically, Coccidioidomycosis, or "coccy" for short; it's caused by > the inhalation of an infectious airborne fungus whose spores lie dormant > in the uncultivated, harsh alkaline soils of the Mojave Desert. When an > unsuspecting and susceptible individual breaths the spores into his or her > lungs, the fungus springs to life, as it prefers the moist, dark recesses > of the human lungs (cats, dogs, rodents and even snakes, among other > vertebrates, are also susceptible to "coccy") to multiply and be happy. > Most cases of active Valley Fever resemble a minor touch of the flu, > though the majority of those exposed show absolutely no symptoms of any > kind of illness; it is important to note, of course, that in rather rare > instances Valley > Fever can progress to a severe and serious infection, causing high fever, > chills, unending fatigue, rapid weight loss, inflammation of the joints, > meningitis, pneumonia and even death. Every fossil enthusiast who chooses > to visit the Mojave Desert must be fully aware of the risks involved." > > More about the bugs if you wish read Paul H`s E-Pistles: > http://theepistlesofpaul.blogspot.jp/2012/09/finding-fossilized-insects-in-mojave.html > > Thanks Paul for your diggings! > > Add this one to the Hanta Virus and rattlesnakes! > > Best Always in LIFE, Dirk Ross...Tokyo > ______________________________________________ > > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > Received on Mon 24 Sep 2012 02:54:43 PM PDT |
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