Reported valley fever cases in 2010 triple the number in 2009
By ToppStories
Kern County public health officials reported three times more valley fever cases in 2010 than they saw in 2009.
Countywide, there were 1,812 cases reported last year, more than triple the 596 cases reported the year before, according to the Kern County Department of Public Health.
But before you pack your bags, consider the context.
The number of reported cases in 2009 was the lowest since 2000. In addition, 2010, a relatively bad year, pales in comparison to 1992 and 1993, when county health officials documented 3,342 cases and 2,608 cases, respectively.
It's also important to know that reported cases are only a fraction of the total number of valley fever cases, as most cases are not reported because most people don't even know when they have it.
Dr. Claudia Jonah, public health officer for Kern County estimated that 60 percent to 80 percent of cases are never reported.
Which means the value of the statistics on reported cases is limited as they don't reveal the extent of infections in Kern.
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But Sandra Larson, executive director of the Valley Fever Americas Foundation, which raises money for valley fever research, said the statistics are valuable because they reflect more severe cases -- cases that caused patients to seek medical attention.
Unfortunately, severe cases can sometimes be fatal, or leave patients with health problems for life.
In a recent case, Bakersfield seventh-grader Tyler Bridgewater died Saturday at Children's Hospital Central California in Madera, nearly four months after contracting valley fever and experiencing complications from the disease.
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