[meteorite-list] Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) Mohave desert risk for meteorite hunters and rockhounders et al

From: Michael Farmer <mike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:08:35 -0600
Message-ID: <2CCF0F27-5E0C-459F-BEDB-F46AF39DD89F_at_meteoriteguy.com>

All of the Haboobs hitting Phoenix have really stirred up Valley fever last few years.
Michael Farmer

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 24, 2012, at 12:54 PM, Lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu wrote:

> 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
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Received on Mon 24 Sep 2012 03:08:35 PM PDT