When trying to prevent a Valley Fever infection there are only only a few choices.
1) Make sure you don’t go to the endemic areas or receive any packages from these areas. Our Maps and History page can assist with this.
2) If you are in an endemic area, wear an N95 or better respirator. Be aware that it must also be a miner’s mask, since most N95s are impossible to fit properly for adequate personal protection against the microscopic Coccidioides spore.
3) For people who are already infected with Valley Fever, they may be given antifungal drugs prophylactically.
With all the horror the global coronavirus pandemic has caused, is it shocking that prophylaxis for COVID19 may actually be easier?
Nasal rinses and mouthwashes, which directly impact the major sites of reception and transmission of human coronaviruses (HCoV), may provide an additional level of protection against the virus.
Scientists compared 30 second, 60 second, and 120 second treatments.
A 1% baby shampoo nasal rinse solution inactivated [COVID-19] greater than 99.9% with a 2‐min contact time. Several over‐the‐counter mouthwash/ gargle products including Listerine and Listerine‐like products were highly effective at inactivating infectious virus with greater than 99.9% even with a 30‐s contact time.
The doctors in this study indicated that it was not a human trial and that more study is needed to ensure this would be protective in humans, but along with proper masking and hygiene practices, this may be another tool to protect against COVID-19.
Perhaps someday a safe chemical will be discovered to help prevent Valley Fever.
Meyers C, Robison R, Milici J, Alam S, Quillen D, Goldenberg D, Kass R. Lowering the transmission and spread of human coronavirus. J Med Virol. 2020 Sep 17. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26514. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32940907.