A desert fungus that infects humans is spreading

... And scientists don't fully understand why.

Out of the millions of fungal species in the world, only a few hundred can make people sick. Coccidioides is one of them — and it lives in desert dust. Microscopic spores are kicked up when the ground is disturbed; if inhaled, they can cause an infection known as Valley fever. Most people recover without ever knowing they had it, but others will experience far more intense symptoms, ranging from pneumonia to meningitis. Coccidioides is also really good at eating … meat.

Fortunately, this fungus is typically only found in the southwestern US, parts of Mexico, and Central and South America — and cases are rare. But unfortunately, that range is expanding quickly. Scientists are racing to understand exactly why, because even though this fungus has existed for millennia, there are still tons of unanswered questions about how it lives both in the desert and in people.

Further reading:

[al.bay]

Ah yes. Environmental horrors beyond my comprehension.

[stasgold]

You know, the fact that most mammals have a body temperature of 36.6+ C - is a protection against funguses. Having fungus that survives hot environments is pretty disturbing news 😮

[TechBearSeattle]

I got valley fever just before my 18th birthday in the mid 80s; I was living in Tucson at the time. Pneumonia in one lung, and a hive-like rash head to toe. English does not have the words to describe how miserable it was.

[goldenequine]

What I've learned from my father getting valley fever when I was young is that it can't survive in high altitude...we moved to the mountains and he got better❤

[douglasstemke]

With this organism, it isn't just spores. Thd mycelium itself fractures and is easily airborne . It was the one fungal organism at Southwest Texas State University we weren't allowed to grow in class.

[jorgeolalde]

Important note(that was somehow omitted from the video): coccidiomycosis DOES NOT have human to human transmission.

[PasleyAviationPhotography]

Phoenix resident for many years now, In 2012 I contracted valley fever and my mom did too a few years before. She got it much worse and then she contracted a flesh eating bacteria (I forget the technical name). Unfortunately she had to have large amounts of skin and muscle tissue removed which left her unable to walk but she did pull through. I lost her in 2017 partially from the toll all this took. My family were in good health till we moved to this God forsaken desert.

[quantumqueef]

my dad lays foundation in arizona and he's been concerned that he has had dormant valley fever for years now. thank you for making this video!

[spocksvulcanbrain]

If you've ever watched a TV drug commercial in which the announcer says something like "...tell your doctor if you've been to a place where certain fungal infections are common..., " this is one of those infections. Histoplasmosis (Ohio Valley fever) is another very common one. From a medical perspective, fungal infections are one of the hardest types of infections to treat/cure. They are notorious for being resistant to total eradication.

[sxeptomaniac]

I've lived in California's San Joaquin Valley for 40+ years (the valley that the disease is named for) . Valley fever is just kind of a known risk around here. It's really important to wear good masks when dust is being kicked up, but a lot of people tend to get it, and it can do really weird things to the human body. My step-dad got skin abscesses and lesions on his forehead, for example. It would be nice if the increased attention finally gets us a vaccine, though.

At least around here, it's considered pretty treatable, but it's tricky to diagnose if the doctor isn't looking for it.

[MarianneKat]

I cared for a person with this. Chest tubes could barely keep up with the air leaks. The lungs were dissolving on ct scan. Everyone had their jaws dropped on the floor, as we are in the north and never saw it before. Very sad.

[BadNessie]

As mentioned in the video, it's been around for millennia. My (non scientific) guess on why it's affecting us more over time: we get into its territory more. More contact opportunities (including the rats we bring with us) lead to more infections, lead to more spread. Also: it seems to like dry places and the weather-, maybe even climate-conditions suit it well. Another factor that is at the very least partly caused by humans. I obviously don't know if it's this simple. But I would be surprised if these are not a factors in the equation.

[mahak]

My mother died from this in suburban Phoenix. I was kinda numb to the explanations at the time. This is helpful information.

[christopherantonio]

If anyone read, "Esperanza Rising", this is the disease that Esperanza's mother got in the book. Her mother was in the hospital for a month or more and was super depressed. I had no idea how bad it really can be

[matterlord]

Valley fever is a big worry in AZ. The common thought is "don't go out during a habub because the dust storms drag up the fungus from the dirt and carries it in the storm."

[Derkaramma]

I always try to remind people about this. You can’t be in the dust storms. We moved away from the area that had it worse but anytime I see dust in the air I think about it. Pups get it so much from their noses in the soil and people never get why I don’t let my dogs get all in the soil / dirt.

[tropical_flak]

Didn't think the last of us would be getting another addition to the franchise but here we are

[FelixPisecker]

"So Texas is one of those areas that you know, they just don't report the disease nationally"

I am shooketh

[LiveTUNA]

I live in Phoenix and I have chronic valley fever. I also have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. I've had it disseminate several times now causing meningitis and more commonly abscesses on my body and in my lungs. It's the worst thing to ever happen to me.

[fenrirgg]

I've never heard of this fungus infection before, and I live in Northern Mexico. I think it's important to point that most people exposed to the fungus don't develop an infection, and most of those who get an infection have a recover by themselves, only a few get the bad infection described in the video (according to the CDC).