Current news from the Dominican Republic may become the future Valley Fever defense:
Dominican Republic health officials lashed out Wednesday at the recent reports exposing the deaths of American tourists visiting their country, calling them “fake news” with the intent to derail the county’s tourism industry.
Source: DR officials blast US tourist death reports as ‘fake news’
It is inevitable that Valley Fever, as a local biohazard in prime tourism destinations, may get the same treatment. If the term “fake news” is good enough for two consecutive U.S. Presidents, why not expect total denial of the facts here? Even while the disease is minimized, distorted and disregarded in some coverage and official information, at least there is coverage that might lead someone, somewhere might decide to vacation in a place without an incurable disease like this.
Right now, misconceptions are more common than comprehensive knowledge of the Valley Fever Epidemic. Our FAQ, Facts and Commentary, and Bioterrorism pages show the seriousness of the disease in ways that should become common knowledge.
When the full truth about Valley Fever reaches enough people, I fully expect that those dependent on travel and tourism somewhere in endemic areas will declare the truth as “fake news.”