Coccidioidomycosis in travelers returning from Mexico--Pennsylvania, 2000

Coccidioidomycosis (CM), a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis, is endemic in the southwestern United States and parts of Central and South America. The disease is acquired by inhaling the arthroconidia of C. immitis present in the soil. Outbreaks of CM occur when susceptible persons are exposed to airborne arthroconidia from dust storms, natural disasters, and earth excavation (1,2). Persons who travel to areas where the disease is endemic may become infected and develop symptoms after returning home (3,4). This report describes an outbreak of CM among travelers returning to Pennsylvania from a trip to Mexico.