Valley Fever Expansion by the end of the 21st Century
This news about Valley Fever (VF) is of interest to me because this is my topic for my DNP project. The report recently released in Irvine, California that climate change is affecting the spread of VF. VF is currently endemic in Arizona and California's San Joaquin valley because of the valley's hot and dry climate. The spores live in undisturbed dirt but when soil is disturbed through farming, agriculture and dust storms, these activities can carry the micro-spores in the air where people who are exposed to dust and soil, can breathe these spores, resulting in a respiratory infection. Scientists predict, due to climate change will cause the fungal infection's range to spread from the central valley northwards and through to the mid-west of the United States by 2095. This vast infection to the geographical range can increase health care expenditure only exponentially. How can global warming and the rise of VF can impact the populations' health? It is through education and awareness of the disease so it can be diagnosed and treated sooner before dissemination can occur. Hence, my DNP project is educating the primary care providers on clinical symptoms of VF, its screening methods and treatment modalities.
Climate change is a pivotal issue in Environmental Health. Entire climatic zones are shifting towards the poles, sub-tropical is now nearly tropical, and so on.
ReplyDeleteThe warmer climes to which many retirees, well...retire, may soon become too hot for them to live safely even with air conditioning.