Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: A word of warning (Read 1 time) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
A word of warning
Yahoo Message Number: 58571
A word of warning to folks traveling (or living) in the southwest.
This includes central and southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.

What is Valley Fever? Valley Fever is the common name for the parasitic fungal disease coccidioidomycosis. Updated statistics show that Valley Fever causes symptoms in over half of the people who are infected (Cole GT, Xue JM, Okeke CN, Tarcha EJ, Basrur V, Schaller RA, Herr RA, Yu JJ, Hung CY. A vaccine against coccidioidomycosis is justified and attainable. Med Mycol. 2004 Jun; 42(3):189-216). While a few will not feel sick, most will have symptoms including fever, rashes, headaches, severe abscesses and lesions in nearly any part of the body. Valley Fever can even kill its victims through pneumonia and meningitis in its worst cases. (quoted from the Valley Fever Survivors web site found here: http://www.valleyfeversurvivor.com/index.html

I was infected while working in my back yard moving dirt from here to there using a `Bobcat earth mover' making flat spots, building a hill, etc. You can read my story here: http://members.tripod.com/~B_u_d/vf.htm

There are numerous cases of folks traveling thru these areas, then going home only to get sick. There local doctors have no clue as to what is wrong with them and usually treat them for pneumonia as that is what VF looks like on X-rays.

I encourage all of you who travel in the southwest to familiarize yourself with this disease and its symptoms. Bookmark the VF Survivors website for future reference (hopefully you'll never need it).

I've been a reader on this site ever since I sold my LD (what was I thinking) and have continued to read it as the camaraderie here is fantastic. The tips and hint are for the most part universal and can be applied to any RV.  I still camp but have gone back to a truck camper (more economical as I still have a truck to drive and do not have a vehicle dedicated to camping)

Jerry `former LD RB owner'
Jerry Galang
Meridian, ID 83646
Re: A word of warning
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58575
Quote
Valley Fever is the common name for the parasitic fungal disease coccidioidomycosis.

 I grew up in Phoenix, and, while Valley Fever can be serious for those who have symptoms, most people never realize they've contracted the fungus because they have no symptons, and never have any problems as a result.
 Be aware, however, that your pets can also contract Valley Fever, especially dogs who are outside.

Linda Hylton 2004 Red 23.5' TK From Mountain View RV Park Susanville, CA See where we are: http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=1167

 Sent via the WebMail system at mail.escapees.com
Linda Hylton
 
A word of warning
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 58579
Quote
Be aware, however, that your pets can also contract Valley Fever, especially dogs who are outside.
Before we bought our MB, to us LD stood for Lyme Disease.  I think the same caution could be reiterated for Lyme Disease, which has been found in all contiguous 48 states, not to mention Canada and Mexico.  www.ilads.org is a good site for information.

twodrifters

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]