[Southern
Arizona VA Healthcare System] [University
of Arizona] [Campaign Arizona]
[The University of
Arizona Foundation ] [Arizona Health
Sciences Center]
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Valley Fever is primarily a disease of the lungs that is common in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is caused by the fungus Coccidioides sp., which grows in soils in areas of low rainfall, high summer temperatures, and moderate winter temperatures. These fungal spores become airborne when the soil is disturbed by winds, construction, farming and other activities. In susceptible people and animals, infection occurs when a spore is inhaled. Within the lung, the spore changes into a larger, multicellular structure called a spherule. The spherule grows and bursts, releasing endospores which develop into spherules. Valley Fever symptoms generally occur within three weeks of exposure. Valley Fever is not a "contagious" disease, meaning it is not passed from person to person. Second infections are rare.
Valley Fever can be a serious illness. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 cases in the southwestern U.S. each year, most of which resolve on their own. In patients with serious complications from the disease and those with immunosuppression (including AIDS and organ transplants), diagnosis and treatment is often complicated and expensive, and current therapy is sometimes inadequate to cure patients. Additionally, many visitors from regions where Valley Fever is not endemic develop Valley Fever after returning home from the Southwest, and their physicians may not be familiar with the disease. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) was established in 1995 and is located at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System's facility (Tucson VA Medical Center) and is jointly sponsored by the University of Arizona and the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) is a Center of Excellence in the College of Medicine with eight other centers (Arizona Arthritis Center, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Center on Aging, Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Arizona Prevention Center, Arizona Respiratory Center, Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center and The UofA Sarver Heart Center). The mission of the VFCE is to mobilize resources for the eradication of Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) through:
The VFCE is the only center of its type and is a regional, national and international resource. It provides a multi-faceted awareness program to the public, medical practitioners and health care workers. The VFCE operates an informational HOTLINE [(520) 629-4777] for information about the disease, its diagnosis and treatment, as well as referrals to the Valley Fever Clinics and physicians. The VFCE maintains a website (English and Spanish) and answers questions by electronic mail [ vfever@email.arizona.edu ]. Approximately 2,750 client contacts are now handled annually. The VFCE staff presents programs on Valley Fever and risk management to medical practitioners, in-service and CME accredited courses, poster presentations, health-fair exhibits and general presentations to corporate and community groups. An informational brochure is distributed on an ongoing basis to individuals, libraries, retirement communities, RV parks, clinics, hospitals, tourist and visitor bureaus, schools, civic organizations, insurance companies and businesses. Periodic publications include a quarterly newsletter and an annual report. The VFCE has also developed a Valley Fever Syllabus for Medical Practitioners (available in English and Spanish) which has been transferred into electronic media as part of an internet, self-study CME course for health care professionals. The VFCE provides information to the public, physician consultations with VFCE physicians, physician referrals for patients, and promotes research into all aspects of the disease. The VFCE responds to requests for referrals, many from out-of-state and emphasizes the need for the development of multi-disciplinary patient management, especially for those patients with complications. Valley Fever Evaluation and Treatment Clinics are operated each week at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and at St. Luke’s Clinic, University Medical Center. The VFCE has also compiled a referral list of physicians throughout the United States who are willing to see Valley Fever patients. The VFCE facilitates, stimulates and fosters research by providing a public profile for Valley Fever and by sponsoring collaboration among clinicians and research investigators. Primary areas of research are in the fields of immunology, fungal growth, and fungus adaptation within soil or during infection as well as on the development of a vaccine. Excellence in scholarly research activities is supported through the Center’s Scientific Membership Committee and Faculty, providing a vital link between the VFCE and scientific, medical, and educational research communities throughout the nation. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE)
relies solely upon tax-free donations and grants to the foundation for its
continued support. Contributions to the VFCE enable it to continue its mission
to find ways of reducing risk and improving medical treatment. It is through
your generous donations that we are able to continue serving the public through
research, education and the treatment of this disease. To support the work of
the Center, please mail your check made payable to: The University of Arizona TAX ID # 86-6004791 Our mailing
address is: Telephone HOTLINE can be reached at (520) 629-4777. We can also be reached toll-free from anywhere in Arizona through the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System at (800) 470-8262. This number is for the Veteran's hospital (8:30am - 3:30pm), ask the switchboard operator for the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, extension 4777. Or send us e-mail at: John N. Galgiani, MD, Director Robert J. Brauer, Jr., MA, CQA, Executive Director
All rights reserved. Request permission to duplicate or redistribute in any form.
since 8/27/1997
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