Talking Valley fever with Dr. John Galgiani
November 9-17, 2013 is the 11th “Valley Fever Awareness Week” in the state of Arizona, a state which reported some 12,000 cases of the fungal infection in 2012.
Coccidioides immitis arthroconidia
Image/CDC
I had the opportunity to talk to the Director, Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona, Dr. John Galgiani on Friday and the interview was played on the Saturday, Nov. 16 airing of Outbreak News This Week Radio Show. (Listen below)
During our conversation, Dr. Galgiani briefly went into what Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis is, risk factors and issues about treatment.
He also talked about why Valley fever was of such importance in the state of Arizona.
Just to give you an idea, according to the The University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence website, “Two-thirds of all U.S. Valley Fever infections are contracted in Arizona. Nationally, Valley Fever is uncommon and considered an orphan disease. Yet it is so concentrated in Arizona that this state needed an advocate to promote improvements in understanding, medical care, and research about this disease.”
In addition, Galgiani explained the mission of the Center and talked about some of the events that occurred and will happen during this year’s “Valley Fever Awareness Week”.
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