Valley fever among Arizonans continues to run high, according to the state Department of Health Services.
There were more than 12,000 confirmed cases of Valley Fever in 2012. In the most recent year-to-date report available, that’s far above the five-year median for January through November of 9,075 cases. During the same time period last year, there were 15,000 cases.
In fact, valley fever cases this year far outnumber influenza, whooping cough and West Nile virus combined.
State health officials predict there are many more cases out there because the illness can have minor symptoms.
Read the full feature on the The East Valley Tribune site.
Photo courtesy of Darryl Webb, AFN.