This Fever Is Hiding Underground In Utah

This fever could be sweeping our area and we won't even know it because it lurks underground.

The University of Utah has focused on the St. George area to discover the growth, effects and complications of Valley Fever, also known as Coccidioidomycosis.

What is Valley Fever:
Valley Fever is caused by fungus, but instead of being spread from person to person it grows underground and does not cause sickness until it is unearthed. Since it grows underground it is difficult to track.

When we first moved to a specific place in the desert we noticed a sickness that would hit us during the windy season. Some of the locals told us it was Valley Fever, but it honestly sounded like a colloquialism that they made up.

Symptoms
Symptoms of Valley Fever pretty much match the symptoms of a regular fever. We are talking cough, headache, high temperature, night Sweats, fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath, pain in the muscles and joints. It usually doesn't last more than a regular fever, around 2 weeks, but complications can set in and it could last months.

Why St. George?
There are two reasons U of U focused their studies on the St. George area.
The first one had to do with the rapid growth in the area. Everytime ground is broken for a building project there is a chance for the release of the fungal spores.
The second reason, Southern Utah displays a lot of soil sampled from higher to lower elevations. Scientists at the U of U felt like this gave them a way to study the variety of Utah elevations in one location.

So be aware when the wind blows. The best way to avoid contracting the fever is by avoiding the airborne spores. Stay indoors and I hate to say the "M" word, but if you are concerned you can mask up.