Arizona Victims of Valley Fever is a nonprofit 501(c)3, whose mission is to support a cure for a life-threatening fungal disease known as valley fever. The group merged as of March 2011 with the Valley Fever Alliance. The new organization seeks the same goals: awareness, education and a cure and/or vaccine for valley fever.
Providing information and support about Valley Fever, its symptoms & health effects in humans and animals.
What is Valley Fever? Valley Fever, a.k.a. Coccidioidomycosis (Cocci) has been at epidemic levels since the state began recording cases in 1997, but those cases are only 2% or less of the people who have actually been infected. These numbers also do not take into consideration all the companion animals such as dogs, cats,horses and wild animals etc,; which have been stricken with this costly disease.
Two-thirds of all Valley Fever cases and infections come from Arizona. Rebecca Sunenshine, MD/Epidemiologist from CDC&P says: "If Arizona doesn't do something, no one will." In November 2008, the Arizona State Department of Health Services declared the Valley Fever fungus to be "Arizona's Disease." Everyone must become more aware of the serious hazards of Valley Fever for the sake of our loved ones, friends, co-workers, visitors and animals. We are knowingly infecting not only the United States but the world.
Anyone who comes to Arizona to live or visit can be infected. Valley Fever is an incurable disease today. It can cause severe illness, disability or even death. There is no such thing as immunity. If you breathe, you will be infected in time. I hope the following pages will help you to better understand Valley Fever.
