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Questions and Answers
What caused the dusty conditions in the San Joaquin Valley in 1977 December 20th?
What caused the dusty conditions in the San Joaquin Valley in 1977 December 20th?
- Rainfall and runoff creating mud and dusty conditions
- A sudden sandstorm caused by a seismic event
- Strong wind blowing loose topsoil and mustard-colored dust into the sky (correct)
- A volcanic eruption in the Great Basin
What was the impact of the dust plume on the surrounding areas?
What was the impact of the dust plume on the surrounding areas?
- It caused heavy rainfall and flooding in the region
- It triggered a series of tornadoes in the San Joaquin Valley
- It led to a sudden drop in temperature and frost in Bakersfield
- It blotted out the sun four counties away and stopped traffic on Highway 5 (correct)
How far did the dust plume travel from Bakersfield to the north?
How far did the dust plume travel from Bakersfield to the north?
- Four hundred miles to Sacramento (correct)
- Two hundred miles to Fresno
- Six hundred miles to Redding
- One thousand miles to Portland
What marked the end of the drought in Sacramento?
What marked the end of the drought in Sacramento?
What is coccidioidomycosis commonly known as?
What is coccidioidomycosis commonly known as?
Where is Coccidioides immitis found?
Where is Coccidioides immitis found?
How do the endospores of C. immitis travel in the body?
How do the endospores of C. immitis travel in the body?
What is the treatment for cocci meningitis?
What is the treatment for cocci meningitis?
Where is the Cocci endemic?
Where is the Cocci endemic?
How are C. immitis spores dispersed?
How are C. immitis spores dispersed?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations compared to other diseases?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations compared to other diseases?
How many cases of valley fever were recorded from 1998 to 2011 according to the Centers for Disease Control?
How many cases of valley fever were recorded from 1998 to 2011 according to the Centers for Disease Control?
What percentage of infected people are symptomatic?
What percentage of infected people are symptomatic?
How do the signs of valley fever compare to the flu?
How do the signs of valley fever compare to the flu?
What is the common method to administer anti-fungal treatment for valley fever patients?
What is the common method to administer anti-fungal treatment for valley fever patients?
What is the impact of climate change on the dispersal of valley fever?
What is the impact of climate change on the dispersal of valley fever?
What does the mother limit for her children?
What does the mother limit for her children?
What was found on the dashboard inside the car?
What was found on the dashboard inside the car?
What does Lauer plan to do with the data?
What does Lauer plan to do with the data?
What natural disaster affected the San Joaquin Valley in 1977?
What natural disaster affected the San Joaquin Valley in 1977?
How far did the dust plume travel from Bakersfield to Sacramento?
How far did the dust plume travel from Bakersfield to Sacramento?
What was the impact of the dust plume on Sacramento?
What was the impact of the dust plume on Sacramento?
What marked the end of the drought in Sacramento?
What marked the end of the drought in Sacramento?
What is the cause of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
What is the cause of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
What happens when C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
What happens when C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
What is the main reason behind the rise in infections of valley fever?
What is the main reason behind the rise in infections of valley fever?
Who is most susceptible to severe and life-threatening forms of valley fever?
Who is most susceptible to severe and life-threatening forms of valley fever?
What is the treatment for cocci meningitis?
What is the treatment for cocci meningitis?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations compared to other diseases?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations compared to other diseases?
Where is valley fever endemic?
Where is valley fever endemic?
What is the most common method of contracting valley fever?
What is the most common method of contracting valley fever?
What is the percentage of infected people who are symptomatic?
What is the percentage of infected people who are symptomatic?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations?
What is the impact of valley fever on its endemic populations?
What is the range of valley fever's impact compared to West Nile virus?
What is the range of valley fever's impact compared to West Nile virus?
Where is the C. immitis fungus found?
Where is the C. immitis fungus found?
What is the primary cause of valley fever?
What is the primary cause of valley fever?
What is the treatment for disseminated cocci meningitis?
What is the treatment for disseminated cocci meningitis?
What has contributed to the rise of valley fever infections?
What has contributed to the rise of valley fever infections?
When does valley fever season in California peak?
When does valley fever season in California peak?
What is the impact of population growth in areas like Phoenix on valley fever?
What is the impact of population growth in areas like Phoenix on valley fever?
What makes the spread of the valley fever fungus more intense in the region?
What makes the spread of the valley fever fungus more intense in the region?
What is the impact of valley fever on policymakers?
What is the impact of valley fever on policymakers?
What is the status of a vaccine or cure for severe cases of valley fever?
What is the status of a vaccine or cure for severe cases of valley fever?
What are the characteristics of C. immitis spores?
What are the characteristics of C. immitis spores?
What is the geographic range where valley fever is endemic?
What is the geographic range where valley fever is endemic?
What are the long-term health implications of valley fever?
What are the long-term health implications of valley fever?
What causes coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
What causes coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
Where is the Coccidioides immitis fungus found?
Where is the Coccidioides immitis fungus found?
What happens when the C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
What happens when the C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
What is the impact of valley fever on people with weakened immune systems?
What is the impact of valley fever on people with weakened immune systems?
What is the cause of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
What is the cause of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever?
Where is the C. immitis fungus found?
Where is the C. immitis fungus found?
What happens when the C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
What happens when the C. immitis spores reach the end of the bronchioles in the lungs?
How does the C. immitis fungus spread in the body?
How does the C. immitis fungus spread in the body?
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Study Notes
Valley Fever: A Deadly Disease Spreading in the Southwest
- Sacramento County recorded over a hundred cases of valley fever in a few weeks, with six fatalities, a significant increase from previous years.
- Coccidioides immitis is a soil-dwelling fungus found in Bakersfield, causing valley fever when its spores are inhaled.
- C. immitis spores are small, easily fragmented, and can lodge deep in the lungs, leading to acute inflammation disrupting blood flow.
- The disease can spread through the blood and lymph systems and cause long-term health problems, with a small subset of patients suffering from disseminated cocci meningitis.
- Treatment for cocci meningitis involves administering anti-fungal medication, amphotericin B, through spinal taps, and can be brutal.
- Valley fever is endemic to the desert Southwest and semi-arid parts of Central and South America, with infections on the rise due to climate change.
- The disease is often ignored by policymakers despite its significant impact, with a tenfold increase in reported cases from 1998 to 2011.
- Valley fever is the second most reported disease in Arizona, with no vaccine or cure available for the most severe cases.
- The elderly, immune-compromised, pregnant women, African-Americans, and Filipinos are most susceptible to severe forms of the disease.
- The population growth in areas like Phoenix has led to more people without acquired immunity, increasing the risk of infection.
- Valley fever season in California peaks in the fall, with the fungus notoriously hard to find in the ground, making it difficult to discern patterns of its presence.
- The disease has been considered an occupational hazard for oil workers, and the spread of the fungus is intensified by dry, hot, and windy conditions in the region.
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