Arizona Dust Storm: Health Risks of Desert Fever

by Steve Newman, Earthweek: Diary of a Planet

"Dust and Disease

An Arizona health expert expressed concern that the two huge clouds of dust that tumbled over Phoenix this month could trigger an increase in the number of valley fever cases this summer.

Jan Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona College of Medicine said the dust storms probably sent airborne spores of the fungus that cause the respiratory infection, allowing them to be more easily inhaled.

"People living in Phoenix and the surrounding areas should know about this risk and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of pneumonia," Galgiani said in a statement.

He said early diagnosis and treatment can drastically reduce the severity of the infection."