Valley Fever is endemic in which geographic region?

Valley Fever is endemic in which geographic region?

• A. Northeast US
• B. Southwest US including Arizona and Central Valleys of California
• C. Midwest
• D. Pacific Northwest

Answer: (B)

Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is caused by Coccidioides fungi that thrive in hot, dry desert soils. People most often acquire it by inhaling dust containing fungal arthroconidia, which makes arid regions with dusty conditions particularly high risk. The area most classically described as endemic is the Southwest United States, especially Arizona and the Central Valley of California, where the combination of warm temperatures and dry soils supports the fungus and dusty exposures are common. The other regions listed are not considered endemic zones for this infection. The Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest do not have the same stable, year-after-year presence of the organism, though sporadic travel-related cases can occur. Thus, the region where Valley Fever is endemic is the Southwest US, including Arizona and California’s Central Valley.

Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is caused by Coccidioides fungi that thrive in hot, dry desert soils. People most often acquire it by inhaling dust containing fungal arthroconidia, which makes arid regions with dusty conditions particularly high risk. The area most classically described as endemic is the Southwest United States, especially Arizona and the Central Valley of California, where the combination of warm temperatures and dry soils supports the fungus and dusty exposures are common.

The other regions listed are not considered endemic zones for this infection. The Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest do not have the same stable, year-after-year presence of the organism, though sporadic travel-related cases can occur. Thus, the region where Valley Fever is endemic is the Southwest US, including Arizona and California’s Central Valley.