An expert in Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) has written a book that provides the only comprehensive look at the fungus infection people get when breathing in microscopic spores that live in dirt.
David Filip has written “Valley Fever Epidemic" in hopes that more doctors will be aware of the infection, according to KOB4.
Commonly found in New Mexico, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said valley fever is a “silent epidemic" and a person can acquire the infection through playing outside or gardening.
Doctors frequently believe they are dealing with a cold or a flu due to Valley fever symptoms that include cough, chills, fever and headaches.
"Because it’s so underreported and not diagnosed, many doctors themselves are not understanding how to diagnose and treat it," Filip said.
The disease hits close to home for Filip because his mom was diagnosed with the disease.
After being unable to walk up and down the stairs, she knew she had something other than the common cold.
“One day, I was perfectly fine. Then, the next day, I was seriously ill, and I’m not a person that goes to doctors easily," she said.
It took doctors several weeks to diagnose her properly.
“It’s been said that it takes only one microscopic spore to infect someone, and 15 trillion could fit on the head of a pen," said Filip, who has been researching the illness for over 20 years.
New Mexico is an ideal state for disease to thrive because of the ongoing drought, geography and state weather patterns.
“The drought dries up the soil competitors so it can grow and then the rain allows the fungus to expand to get closer to the surface as people disturb the ground," he said.
Most people who experience Valley fever have a mild experience with 5-10% of cases causing long-term lung problems, according to KOB4. A breakthrough concerning a cure is currently being worked on by researchers at the University of Arizona, which would be the first fungal vaccine of its kind in the country.
