Have you heard of valley fever?
It’s a respiratory condition caused from breathing in fungal spores. Symptoms of valley fever include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle soreness, joint pain and a spotted red rash on the lower legs.
“Workers in endemic areas exposed to dust from disturbed soil are at a higher risk for valley fever,” according to NIOSH. Industries affected include agriculture; construction; firefighting; and mining, oil and gas extraction.
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NIOSH shares these tips to minimize exposure:
- Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator.
- Stop work during dust storms or high winds.
- Reduce time spent digging in soil by hand.
- Dig with equipment that has an enclosed, air-conditioned, HEPA-filtered cab.
- Continuously wet soil while digging.
- Stay upwind of digging when possible.
- Wash equipment before moving it to a new location.
- Change clothes and shoes at the jobsite to avoid tracking dust home.
Fungal Disease Awareness Week is Sept. 15–19. Go to cdc.gov/fungal/fungal-disease-awareness-week/index.html to learn more.
