[healthenclave]

The article is actually a little sensationalist. Because Coccidioidomycosis is actually ENDEMIC to the western region of USA and Mexico.

The rates do usually go up after earthquakes and storms that can lift up large amounts of dust up in the air.

In most people the infection resolves itself (much like TB in healthy people). Some people might get pneumonia and rarely do healthy people get meningitis. The disease is severe in immune-comprised but any disease can be severe in that case (eg: simple thrush - candida albicans infection)

simple anti-fungals eg: fluconazole is effective is most cases

[dclowd9901]

You're correct that it's endemic, and it is usually associated with the fungus getting kicked into the air, but being rid of it is hardly a walk in the park. It usually downs its victims with the effectiveness of polio, there's no vaccine, and no real "cure". Fungal infections don't work like that. It takes a long, sustained treatment to be rid of it, and the meek/unhealthy individuals you refer to usually die from the disease. Generally healthy people merely suffer for a year or so.

[douge]

A year is a long time to suffer from invasive fungi, and if the toxicity of your air is, in any way, threatening your health, then you can build a very effective air purifier, which is better and cheaper than the store bought kind, using simple parts.

The key is a MERV 13+ filter (MERV Rating System [0]), because it's 90% effective for collecting particles 1-10 microns. TTBOMK, this is the size of most spores and the arthroconidia that cause this coccidioidomycosis [1].

Take a a 20" box fan (like this Lasko one [2], or available at the hardware store) and these 20x20x4 MERV 13 filters [3], $48, then either tape or bungee cord the filters to the back of the fan. Run it on an elevated surface so that it's not wasting the filter on cleaning up particles that have fallen from the air and can be swept and mopped up. Assemble 1 unit per room.

This works really well. If you're looking for other methods to improve your air quality, search for a UV A/C attachment (e.g. Calutech Blue-Ray), diffused oils (e.g. "Thieve's Oil" in a cold-air diffuser), and ventilation practices. For a wide rang of cases, these nasal screens [4] offer a great solution.

[0] http://www.ontimeairfilters.com/air-filter-merv-rating [1] http://ci.vbi.vt.edu/pathinfo/pathogens/Coccidioides.html [2] http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-3723-20-Inch-Premium-3-SPEED/dp/... [3] http://www.ushomefilter.com/products/air-filters/SC80-20X20X... [4] http://www.filteryourlife.com/

[mehmehshoe]

Not only storms or earthquakes...I would imagine Santa Ana winds would help this spread to the coastal regions.

[healthenclave]

Not very familiar with US geography but looks like your are correct :

(A) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_winds#Health%20effect...

(B) http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/diseases/Cocci.pdf - Check the comments section

(C) http://dust.ess.uci.edu/ppr/pst_ZeT04.pdf