Valley Fever on the Rise in California

[DizzyDigger]

All you dry washers out there need to pay attention to this....if you're gonna be out digging, make damn sure you've got some protection over your face..like an N95 mask.

Valley Fever is nothing to mess with..

MSN

"California is heading toward another record year for cases of Valley fever, the disease caused by fungal spores linked to cycles of drought and precipitation.

There were 3,123 reported cases of Valley fever in the first three months of the year, according to state health officials — roughly double the 10-year average for the first-quarter time period. Cases ranged from a low of 801 in 2016 to 3,011 last year.

.....Because most people clear the disease on their own, the true number of infected people is not known. However, if a person's immune system is unable to clear the disease, and it is left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability."

Not worth the risk, when all ya gotta do is wear a mask.

 

[CoinsAndThings]

I got Valley Fever on a job site in Arizona about 15 years ago. I was down hard for over a week. The OP is right. Valley Fever is nothing to mess with.

 

[Bodfish Mike]

Thanks for the heads up - I always have a mask on when running drywasher but some times
when I'm digging in a hole and kicking up some dust I don't - I will now mast up digging.
Thanks Mike

 

[BAW]

I was an archaeologist in Southern California for many years, starting in the 1970s. Early in my career I and two colleagues were working on a small site associated with but isolated from a larger site. We all contracted valley fever. I developed a chronic case; the other two died. Doctors told me that I would probably live into my forties and then die rather suddenly.
When you are 21, being told that you will live until your forties is like being told that you will live forever. Still, it was always in the back of my mind and shaped my life in many ways, and not necessarily for the better. It is worth avoiding if you can.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Thanks for the heads up - I always have a mask on when running drywasher but some times
when I'm digging in a hole and kicking up some dust I don't - I will now mast up digging.
Thanks Mike

I reckon the hole will appreciate your mast up situation. Otherwise you would be considered a disappointment.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’ve never heard of that. One more reason to avoid CA.

 

[pepperj]

I’ve never heard of that. One more reason to avoid CA.

They need a Prop 65 label on the welcome sign.

 

[Bodfish Mike]

I reckon the hole will appreciate your mast up situation. Otherwise you would be considered a disappointment.

Huh ?? humorous - sarcastic - not sure how to make sense of this comment ?
Please explain

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Huh ?? humorous - sarcastic - not sure how to make sense of this comment ?
Please explain

He said, and I quote: 'I will now mast up digging.' You sir now owe me a beer as do DD and PJ

 

[DizzyDigger]

He said, and I quote: 'I will now mast up digging.' You sir now owe me a beer as do DD and PJ

Actually, I saw that and was just egging you on....

Beer it is; I'll buy anyway. If Bodfish Mike will join us, then lets meet up at the Sag A Bar and Grill, right in the heart of downtown Milky Way. I hear the place is pretty cool once you get through the front door.

 

[russau]

I'd sure like to get in on that offer ! BUT the West Coast id a long way to walk for me !

 

[Chilli]

All you dry washers out there need to pay attention to this....if you're gonna be out digging, make damn sure you've got some protection over your face..like an N95 mask.

Valley Fever is nothing to mess with..View attachment 2204490

MSN

"California is heading toward another record year for cases of Valley fever, the disease caused by fungal spores linked to cycles of drought and precipitation.

There were 3,123 reported cases of Valley fever in the first three months of the year, according to state health officials — roughly double the 10-year average for the first-quarter time period. Cases ranged from a low of 801 in 2016 to 3,011 last year.

.....Because most people clear the disease on their own, the true number of infected people is not known. However, if a person's immune system is unable to clear the disease, and it is left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability."

Not worth the risk, when all ya gotta do is wear a mask. View attachment 2204495

Some nasty stuff in the ground that's for sure. I was hospitalised once from something when nugget hunting. On oxygen, drips, oral antibiotics and intravenous. They had no idea what it was but it was from the ground. Within half an hr of digging a target I felt something was wrong. Went home and straight to bed, must have passed out as the misses called a Dr and put me straight away in hospital. For all the tests it remained a mystery what it actually was. I was in isolation for 2 days as they were worried if it may have been contagious. I avoid the place I got it like the plague to this day.

 

[Bodfish Mike]

He said, and I quote: 'I will now mast up digging.' You sir now owe me a beer as do DD and PJ

Ok you guys got me - I use to tell my co workers do what I mean not what I say.
I'm Dyslexic or as some have called me Lexdicksic.
Beers on me and thanks for the reminder on Valley Fever

Cheers Mike

 

[Mine Shaft]

I’ve never heard of that. One more reason to avoid CA.

Good stay right where your at lol

 

[Seden1954]

All you dry washers out there need to pay attention to this....if you're gonna be out digging, make damn sure you've got some protection over your face..like an N95 mask.

Valley Fever is nothing to mess with..View attachment 2204490

MSN

"California is heading toward another record year for cases of Valley fever, the disease caused by fungal spores linked to cycles of drought and precipitation.

There were 3,123 reported cases of Valley fever in the first three months of the year, according to state health officials — roughly double the 10-year average for the first-quarter time period. Cases ranged from a low of 801 in 2016 to 3,011 last year.

.....Because most people clear the disease on their own, the true number of infected people is not known. However, if a person's immune system is unable to clear the disease, and it is left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability."

Not worth the risk, when all ya gotta do is wear a mask. View attachment 2204495

All you dry washers out there need to pay attention to this....if you're gonna be out digging, make damn sure you've got some protection over your face..like an N95 mask.

Valley Fever is nothing to mess with..View attachment 2204490

MSN

"California is heading toward another record year for cases of Valley fever, the disease caused by fungal spores linked to cycles of drought and precipitation.

There were 3,123 reported cases of Valley fever in the first three months of the year, according to state health officials — roughly double the 10-year average for the first-quarter time period. Cases ranged from a low of 801 in 2016 to 3,011 last year.

.....Because most people clear the disease on their own, the true number of infected people is not known. However, if a person's immune system is unable to clear the disease, and it is left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability."

Not worth the risk, when all ya gotta do is wear a mask. View attachment 2204495

I had valley fever when in the 5th grade in Chatsworth,California. When we get the winter winds, they blow right over the hills to the north and pick up some dust with it. Valley Fever stays dormant in that dust until it gets in a warm moist enviornment where it comes to life which caused the air sacs in my lungs to expand like blowing bubble gum which causes the bubbles sides to thin out and in some cases like mine-that expanded air sac pops! The popping didn't occur until a few months after I graduated High School so in the fall the surgeon cut out all the expanded air sacs on my right lung and did the same operation the following spring on my left lung and I've never had any problems since then.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I had valley fever when in the 5th grade in Chatsworth, California. When we get the winter winds, they blow right over the hills to the north and pick up some dust with it. Valley Fever stays dormant in that dust until it gets in a warm moist environment where it comes to life which caused the air sacs in my lungs to expand like blowing bubble gum which causes the bubbles sides to thin out and in some cases like mine-that expanded air sac pops! The popping didn't occur until a few months after I graduated High School so in the fall the surgeon cut out all the expanded air sacs on my right lung and did the same operation the following spring on my left lung and I've never had any problems since then.

A good friend and mining partner of 45+ years suddenly passed away 11 years ago tomorrow (May 15th, 2014), and I have reason to believe that Valley Fever played a part in his death.

I drove down to So. Cal. in Nov. of 2013.

Thread 'Winter Trip 2013 (pic heavy)'

Dec 21, 2013

The November trip was great, and although I had a hard time
adapting to the environment and work load the first week,
the enjoyment of the second week more than made up for it.

A few days of the trip were chronicled in another thread, but at
the time I couldn't download any of the pics due to leaving the
interface cable at home. Now that I've got them all processed
I though some might enjoy seeing some highlights of the trip.

Had the pleasure of staying with a long-time friend and his
wife at their home in the Hesperia area, and while walking
around the front yard one...

• DizzyDigger
• Replies: 24
• Forum: Gold Prospecting

• 

That N95 mask is cheap insurance, IMO.

 

[Seden1954]

I had valley fever when in the 5th grade in Chatsworth,California. When we get the winter winds, they blow right over the hills to the north and pick up some dust with it. Valley Fever stays dormant in that dust until it gets in a warm moist enviornment where it comes to life which caused the air sacs in my lungs to expand like blowing bubble gum which causes the bubbles sides to thin out and in some cases like mine-that expanded air sac pops! The popping didn't occur until a few months after I graduated High School so in the fall the surgeon cut out all the expanded air sacs on my right lung and did the same operation the following spring on my left lung and I've never had any problems since then.

Forgot to mention that even if you've had Valley Fever, you can always get it again! )<:

 

[Mine Shaft]

Dizzy is spot on about Valley Fever they just had a report on KTLA News about the up tick of 4000 cases in Ca not good 😯

 

[DizzyDigger]

Hated to bring this back to the top, but Valley Fever seems to be causing record
levels of infection..

Whole article at: https://www.foxnews.com/health/vall...levels-west-coast-state-health-officials-warn

"Valley fever cases spike to record levels in West Coast state, health officials warn
Cases of Valley fever are spiking in California, according to health officials.

As of the end of July, there were 6,761 cases confirmed — which means if this pace continues, the total 2025 numbers will likely exceed the 12,595 cases seen in 2024.

Last year’s total was a new record for the state, where the average has been 7,000 to 9,000 cases annually between 2016 and 2024, per data from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)."


Be sure and wear a mask when you're out there in the dust.

 

[russau]

I’ve never heard of that. One more reason to avoid CA.

Gary V.F. is not only in Ca. BUT it is all over the Southwestern desert areas! a lot of the Dr.s in other states don't know the symptoms and misdiagnose and treat you for the wrong problem and the problem gets worse if not treated correctly!