Abstract
Inferring Potential Valley Fever Endemic Areas in Baja California, Mexico Track: Health and Human Services Author(s): Raul Baptista The Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is an endemic disease of desert zones in America. The disease is produced by dimorphic fungi that mainly affect mammals, although it can also infect birds and reptiles. Even though it is a highly infectious disease in its natural habitat, it does not transmit person to person. In the U.S., the disease affects more than 100,000 people annually. In most of the affected patients, the primary mycosis is auto limited. Also, less than 1 percent of the cases develop complications, generally with high morbidity and mortality. The main U.S. endemic areas are in the San Joaquin Valley, California, and in the central desert in Arizona, a biogeographic region known as the Sonoran Desert. The current situation and incidence in Mexico is not known. Through spatial bioclimatic and ecological models, we infer Coccidioides potential endemic areas in Baja California as a basis for further epidemiologic studies. Raul Baptista UABC Sciences faculty Hospital Militar Regional El Cipres Ensenada B. C. , Baja California 22780 MX Phone: 646 1774546 Fax: 646 1774344 E-mail: baptista@uabc.mx |
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