Coccidioidomycosis
Valley Fever
Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, is a
fungal disease caused by inhaling spores from Coccidioides species.
This fungus lives in the soil of semiarid regions of the world and is
endemic in areas of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico and
portions of South America. When asked, most people diagnosed with Valley
fever in Wisconsin, have a history of travel to Arizona, California,
Nevada, New Mexico, or Texas. About 60% of infected people exhibit mild
or no clinical illness. People who develop symptoms most often
experience a flu-like illness, with fever, cough, headache, fatigue,
rash, and muscle aches from which they recover within several months. A
small number of infected people may develop a chronic pulmonary
infection or widespread disseminated infection in the brain, joints,
bones, or soft tissues.
General information
CDC
Coccidioidomycosis
(Exit DHS)
Information for health professionals
This is a Wisconsin Disease Surveillance Category II disease:
Report to
the patient's local public health department electronically, through the Wisconsin
Electronic Disease Surveillance System
(WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case
Report F-44151 (PDF,
167 KB) or by other means within 72 hours upon recognition of a
case. DHS
Communicable Disease Reporting
Wisconsin case reporting and public health follow-up guidelines: Coccidioidomycosis
EpiNet (PDF, 24 KB)
Additional resources
Valley Fever
Center - University of Arizona
(Exit DHS)
Contacts
Wisconsin
Local Health Departments - Regional offices - Tribal agencies
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Last Revised:
June 13, 2012 |
