Sixth SLO County resident dies of valley fever this year

A sixth person in the county has died this year from valley fever, the San Luis Obispo County Health Department has announced.

An elderly man who isn’t being identified died in late November from valley fever, said Ann McDowell, a county Public Health Department epidemiologist. McDowell said the man lived south of the Cuesta Grade.

“He had what we call comorbid conditions, which is some immuno-compromising conditions which might have caused him to be more susceptible to cocci (valley fever),” McDowell said.

Valley fever is caused by a fungus called coccidioidomycosis, or cocci for short. The fungus grows as microscopic spores in the soil. The fungus is endemic, or native, to many areas of the southwestern United States, including San Luis Obispo County.

People contract valley fever by breathing in the dirt or dust in areas where the disease is common, inhaling the fungus spores when they’re spread through the air.

Valley fever cases in San Luis Obispo County have topped 200 this year and are expected to exceed the 260 reported cases in 2016 by year’s end, McDowell said. That compares to 53 cases reported in 2015.

The first five deaths in the county occurred in the first six months of the year.

Common symptoms of valley fever include fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, night sweats, loss of appetite, chest pain, and muscle and joint aches throughout the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While many people contract valley fever and show mild or no symptoms, people who are older or who have have weakened immune systems, including those with HIV, tend to have more serious health complications if they contract the illness.

Last year’s rainy season was abnormally wet, creating prime conditions for the fungus.

Construction work, agriculture, excavation or other digging often kicks up the microscopic spores, and people can become sick if they inhale the dust.

Though it can be difficult to avoid valley fever is areas where its prevalent, people can take measures to protect themselves. The CDC advises people to stay away from areas with a lot of dust, such as construction or excavation sites. Those who can’t should wear a N95 respirator, a type of face mask.

Other recommendations include staying inside during dust storms; minimizing or avoiding activities with close contact to dirt or dust, including yard work, gardening and digging; and using air filtration measures indoors and cleaning skin injuries well with soap and water, especially if the wound was exposed to dirt or dust.

This story was originally published November 30, 2017 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Sixth SLO County resident dies of valley fever this year."