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The Changing Epidemiology of Coccidioidomycosis in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, 1973–2011

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  • Ramon E Guevara
  • Tasneem Motala
  • Dawn Terashita

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is often thought of as an endemic disease of central California exclusive of Los Angeles County. The fungus that causes Valley Fever, Coccidioides spp., grows in previously undisturbed soil of semi-arid and arid environments of certain areas of the Americas. LA County has a few large areas with such environments, particularly the Antelope Valley which has been having substantial land development. Coccidioidomycosis that is both clinically- and laboratory-confirmed is a mandated reportable disease in LA County. Population surveillance data for 1973–2011 reveals an annual rate increase from 0.87 to 3.2 cases per 100,000 population (n = 61 to 306 annual cases). In 2004, case frequency started substantially increasing with notable epidemiologic changes such as a rising 2.1 to 5.7 male-to-female case ratio stabilizing to 1.4–2.2. Additionally, new building construction in Antelope Valley greatly rose in 2003 and displayed a strong correlation (R = 0.92, Pearson p

Suggested Citation

  • Ramon E Guevara & Tasneem Motala & Dawn Terashita, 2015. "The Changing Epidemiology of Coccidioidomycosis in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, 1973–2011," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0136753
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136753
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