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No Consistent Link Between Dust Storms and Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis).
1University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA.
Geohealth
|December 8, 2021
Summary
Dust storms do not consistently increase Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) cases. This study found no statistical link between dust events and coccidioidomycosis infections in Arizona and California.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Mycology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is caused by inhaling Coccidioides fungal arthroconidia.
- Dust storms are often assumed to increase coccidioidomycosis cases, but evidence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dust storms and coccidioidomycosis cases.
- To determine if dust storms consistently lead to increased Valley fever incidence.
Main Methods:
- A compositing analysis (superposed epoch analysis) was used.
- Data from dust storms in Phoenix, AZ, and Bakersfield, CA (2006-2020) were analyzed.
- Monthly and weekly coccidioidomycosis case data were compared between dust storm and non-dust storm conditions.
Main Results:
- No statistical differences in coccidioidomycosis case patterns were observed following dust storms.
- This lack of association held true for the entire dataset and seasonal subsets.
- Findings align with previous research indicating no consistent link between wind, dust, and Valley fever increases.
Conclusions:
- This study provides robust evidence against a consistent association between dust storms and increased Valley fever cases.
- The assumption that dust storms drive coccidioidomycosis outbreaks requires re-evaluation.
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