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Mold Problems in the Desert
Also read: Desert Mold Skin Disease
 
       Q. How can mold possibly be a serious health threat in dry, desert-like areas such as Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, southern Utah, southern California, and west Texas?  [March 15, 2004].

       A. Mold can be a big problem in desert-like climates for the following reasons. First, one of the most deadly molds Coccidioidomycosis, discussed below, and also known as Valley Fever lives only in desert areas of southwestern states like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, southern Utah, southern California, and west Texas. Second, many people cool their homes or other buildings with swamp coolers [evaporative cooling] which causes high indoor humidity to drive mold growth big-time through out the house. In addition, it is common for leaks to develop in water flow to the rooftop coolers, causing water intrusion in attics, ceilings, and walls, allowing mold to grow very well. Third, the extreme heat of the desert sun deteriorates roofs and siding more quickly than normal, allowing roof leaks and siding water entry points to drive mold growth. Fourth, just like anywhere else in the world, plumbing leaks and air conditioning condensation line leaks will cause mold problems. 

          Coccidioidomycosis is a nasty tongue-twister of a name, often contracted to 'coccy', for the disease caused by Coccidioides immitis. This fungus thrives in dry, saline soils, and is endemic in desert areas of the Southwestern U.S., where the disease is often called 'valley fever,' and Mexico (though it is strangely absent from the deserts of Africa and Asia). The process of infection, progress of the disease, and clinical symptoms, are very similar to those of histoplasmosis, though the fungus is not intracellular, and forms spherical structures containing spores. In culture, the same fungus produces chains of alternate thallic-arthric conidia, and has no known teleomorph. Millions of people in the U.S. Southwest have contracted the disease. Fortunately, as in histoplasmosis, most cases are benign, and healing is spontaneous. A few become systemic, and are usually fatal if untreated or misdiagnosed. The disseminated form of this disease is more common among males than females, and among people with darkly pigmented skin.

           The year 2001 has seen an interesting outbreak of this disease in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah.  Ten people who had been working at a 'dig' developed acute respiratory coccoidioidomycosis within two weeks of exposure.  All were treated with fluconazole, with an average hospital stay of 1.5 days, and released apparently none the worse for their experience.  New regulations for digs at Dinosaur call for watering down of the soil before digging, and use of approved respirators (N95).
        For more information and to learn more about this event, please visit the web site:  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5045a1.htm