"This video is wonderful. I wish the entire
Country could view
it because it is important for the citizens to know about this vile
fungus that invades your body simply because you breathe. The video
shows the importance of owning this book so you can learn what Valley
Fever is, how to deal with it, how your family can deal with it, and
finally, that you are not alone. This book helped me gain a positive
attitude in dealing with my illness, and there are still days when I
pick it up to check on certain things. The video and the book could
literally help thousands of people deal with Valley Fever. I will
forever be indebted to Sharon Filip & David Filip for working
so
hard to help those infected with this BioHazard. They certainly helped
me."
Honey De Serre, AZ
See more videos below.
"This book [Valley Fever Epidemic] is like the Bible for Valley
Fever. I have struggled with Valley Fever for 2 years, and the time and
effort that was put into this book has been invaluable. If I ever
wanted a question asked about treatments, new drugs, or medical jargon
it was all in the book and explained so that you can understand. If you
have VF or know someone that does or even if you live in one of the
endemic areas you should own this book it could save your life."
Kenny Manzer, CA
If you
breathe, you can get Valley Fever!
Valley Fever
Epidemic is the first and
only
comprehensive, complete, and up-to-date book written for the lay person
on the subject
of coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever. It
features detailed in-depth information on the disease's symptoms,
diagnosis, testing, risk factors, drugs and treatment, and more.
Read
editorial reviews here
We are an all-volunteer organization. Through your purchase of our
goods at the VFS store
or our books it will help us to reach our ultimate goal which is to
bring attention to the disease and funding to the research for a
vaccine and a cure. Nothing is more important than your health and the
health of a loved one or pet.
Check out the first four videos of the Valley Fever Survivor Educational Film Series in the playlist at our You Tube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/valleyfeversurvivor
This is only the beginning so stay tuned!
Coming Soon: Updates on the Nationwide Valley Fever Epidemic of 2011.
2011 was another record-breaking year of Valley Fever tragedy. More information is coming soon.
Arizona's 2010 Valley Fever Epidemic
2010 was the worst year ever for Valley Fever in Arizona. The
consequences of being infected with this "local secret" agent of
bioterrorism has forced hundreds of thousands of new people to contract
this incurable, debilitating and deadly disease. Arizona, where 65% of
all cases are contracted, had 11,895 infections reported. Using the CDC
model that regards recorded cases a approximately 2% of total
infections, it is estimated that 600,000 Valley Fever infections
occurred just in Arizona alone for 2010.
Arizona's Daily and
Monthly 2010 VF Caseloads
Month
Cases/Day*
Est/Day**
Cases/Month
Est/Month**
J
30
1500
928
46,400
F
29
1450
821
41,050
M
29
1450
909
45,450
A
23
1150
679
33,950
M
27
1350
830
41,500
J
30
1500
907
45,350
J
29
1450
871
43,550
A
32
1600
979
48,950
S
30
1500
913
45,650
O
37
1850
1153
57,650
N
45
2250
1351
67,550
D
50
2500
1554
77,700
A breakdown of infection rates for the top two major
counties in Arizona follows. They are Maricopa County (the Phoenix
area) and Pima County (the Tucson area).
Maricopa
2010
VF
Cases Reported
Est. VF infections**
Full
year
9,466
473,300
Average
per month
789
39,450
Average per week
182
9,100
Average
per day
26
1,300
Pima
2010
VF
Cases Reported
Est. VF Infections**
Full
year
1,433
71,650
Average
per month
119
5,950
Average per week
28
1,400
Average
per day
4
200
*Average cases per day based on the monthly cases reported in Arizona's Final Year Data for 2010. **"Est. VF Infections" refers to the CDC
model that estimates
all Valley Fever
infections in the reporting area based on the number of cases diagnosed
there. This estimate includes people whose cases were diagnosed and
reported as well as the vast majority who are either undiagnosed,
misdiagnosed with another disease, or currently asymptomatic. "Est/Day"
and "Est/Month" apply this model as daily and monthly estimates,
respectively.
Just this one state, Arizona, nearly equaled last year's total
national infections. If there had been nationwide tracking for 2010
(see "Important Progress" below), the national reporting would
undoubtedly have added many more cases. However, when adding in what
little reporting there was to California and other areas, it is a fact
that 2010's reported infections still represent the worst
year ever in the Valley Fever epidemic.
WARNING:
There
are some web sites apparently using Valley Fever Survivor's name but
soliciting money or suggesting that you help them for various causes.
If the sites are not linked from the http://www.valleyfeversurvivor.com
web site, they are NOT FROM US. They are violating the law by
misusing our registered trademark and misrepresenting themselves as our
organization.
Important Progress!
Early in 2010 we reported on the problem that the
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) ceased its
reporting of Valley Fever to the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC). This caused the major problem that coccidioidomycosis
was
no longer a nationally notifiable disease, with all the loss of
publicity and mindshare in the public health community such a demotion
would bring – even after 2009 was the worst national Valley Fever
epidemic in
history by an increase of 60% over 2008.
Fortunately, at the CSTE
annual conference things were finally set straight and Valley Fever was
once again a nationally notifiable disease in 2011.
The Ongoing Epidemic
Just like 2008 and so many years before it, 2009 was the worst year
ever in the history of the Valley Fever
epidemic. Arizona had a 60% increase in reported cases over
2008. There were over 10,279 reported VF cases to the
Arizona Department of Health Services for 2009. Using the CDC
model for calculation of overall infections based on reported
infections, there were over 513,000 people infected with Valley Fever
in the state of Arizona in 2009. For the nation it was over
600,000 cases in 2009.
Although a bureaucratic decision eliminated national reporting of
Valley Fever for 2010, Arizona alone reported 11,895 infections in that
year. Although national reporting had typically been poor, the estimate
model for overall infections in Arizona nearly matches 2009's previous national
total of 600,000 people estimated to have been infected. When accouting
for testing gathered from other states, 2010 was the worst year on
record for Valley Fever.
Our Mission
Statement
Valley
Fever Survivor® was
created to educate people everywhere about the potentially
debilitating consequences of a Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis)
infection. For all those who have died or suffered the horrors of this
disease, we have become a voice for action so that others will not have
to suffer
the same fate.
We are working for political action and also to help raise funds for
research. Research projects
are in the works and hopefully they will succeed so there will be a
vaccine and cure for Valley Fever.
Please visit all the pages on this site and take part in our research
questionnaire and surveys.
As a visitor to Arizona in 2001 I knew nothing about the possibilities
of contracting the state's secret "local disease." A week after I
returned home I became ill and it was only a matter of time before I
heard the words “Valley Fever.” I had a titer of 1:64 and
the illness almost took my life. I hope you will read my Valley Fever story.
Our goal is to end this disease’s obscurity. If people think
Valley Fever is nothing to be worried about or have never heard of it,
they are not likely to do anything to protect themselves.
Please fill out the questionnaire and appropriate surveys, and write to
tell us your story. We feel for all the animals suffering as well as
the people. Valley Fever’s toll on the canine population has
become an epidemic. The 1980 estimate of ten million human infections
(from Dr. Stevens' textbook Coccidioidomycosis)
shows this disease has already been an epidemic in humans for decades.
Stories about cocci infections in yourself or your family members, or
even your
dog, cat, horse, etc. are welcomed in the comments section of the questionnaire or
the animal survey.
We would like to include different cases of Valley Fever in our
upcoming books. If you would like to be considered for inclusion please
participate with our web site's questionnaires, surveys, polls, and
message boards. You can also email us at voiceforaction@valleyfeversurvivor.com.
Also email us if you are interested in having yourself or a
pet included in our upcoming Valley Fever videos.
