Valley Fever Awareness Week Features Events for Scientists and Public
The UA's Valley Fever Center of Excellence is at the forefront of seeking a cure for the illness.
Gov. Janet Napolitano has designated Nov. 10-16 Valley Fever Awareness Week in recognition of the seriousness of valley fever and Arizona's position as a focal point for research and quality clinical care. Events have been planned for both the scientific community and the general public.
Two events in particular will be of special interest to both audiences. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, or VFCE, at The University of Arizona and the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health will present an epidemiology mini-symposium titled, "Valley Fever: How Much, What It Costs and Who Cares?"
Scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Kiewit Auditorium, Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell Ave., the event will feature five 15-minute presentations by researchers from the UA and the Arizona Department of Health Services. There is no charge to attend.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, a documentary film, "Valley Fever, Impact on Arizonans," will make its public debut, and UA valley fever experts Dr. Neil Ampel, Dr. John Galgiani, Dr. Susan Hoover and David Nix will participate in a session called "Learn About Valley Fever: Ask the Doctors Your Questions." Joining them will be staff members from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
This event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., in DuVal Auditorium at University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Admission is $7. More information about this event and reservation forms are available online or by calling 520-629-4777.
Valley fever, also called Coccidioidomycosis or "cocci," is an infection that is prevalent in the southwestern deserts. Caused by the soil-borne fungus, Coccidioides, valley fever infects approximately 150,000 individuals annually, with nearly two-thirds of those in Arizona. Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the UA, said that many people who contract the disease show only mild symptoms or none at all; but about one-third of those infected become ill, some of them seriously.
There is no cure for valley fever, but Galgiani and his research team are working on a vaccine to prevent its occurrence. In 2007 they initiated a clinical trial on a drug that shows some promise in being able to eradicate the fungus and effect a cure.
Many pet owners also are acutely aware of the disease, as it affects animals as well as people. Public events planned in conjunction with Valley Fever Awareness Week include a juried art exhibit by veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary students; a fundraising event for the Valley Fever Companion Animal Fund; and two lectures, "Valley Fever in Animals" and "Devil in the Dust: Understanding Valley Fever from the Dirt to the Disease."
For the scientific community, other events include the 13th Annual Farness Lecture at the UA; a half-day continuing medical education course for primary care physicians at the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix in partnership with ASU; and a Frontiers in Medical Research seminar and UA department of immunobiology seminar.
Complete schedules of events are available at www.vcfe.arizona.edu. For more information, call 520-629-4777 or e-mail vfever@email.arizona.edu.
et cetera
- Extra Info | For anyone interested in participating in clinical trials, the clinical trial begun in 2007 expanded recently to include the general public, as well as patients who are newly diagnosed with valley fever. For more information, please visit the VFCE Web site or call 520-471-8031.
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