Valley_NN1 Fever_NN1 Blowing_VVG on_II a_AT1 Hotter_JJR Wind_NN1 It_PPH1 's_VBZ high_JJ noon_NNT1 ,_, and_CC the_AT 112-degree_JJ summer_NNT1 heat_NN1 --_NN1 up_RP from_II a_AT1 decade_NNT1 ago_RA --_NN1 stalks_VVZ Arizona_NP1 's_GE Sonoran_NN1 Desert_NN1 ._. 
By_II late_JJ afternoon_NNT1 ,_, dark_JJ clouds_NN2 threaten_VV0 ,_, and_CC monsoon_NN1 winds_NN2 beat_VV0 the_AT earth_NN1 into_II a_AT1 mass_NN1 of_IO swirling_VVG sand_NN1 ._. 
Thick_JJ walls_NN2 of_IO surface_NN1 soil_NN1 blind_JJ drivers_NN2 on_II the_AT Interstate_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD health_NN1 experts_NN2 believe_VV0 new_JJ weather_NN1 conditions_NN2 --_JJ hotter_JJR temperatures_NN2 and_CC more_RGR intense_JJ dust_NN1 storms_NN2 fueled_VVD by_II global_JJ warming_NN1 --_NN1 are_VBR creating_VVG a_AT1 perfect_JJ storm_NN1 for_IF the_AT transmission_NN1 of_IO coccidioidomycosis_NN1 ,_, also_RR known_VVN as_II valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 fungal_JJ disease_NN1 endemic_JJ to_II the_AT southwestern_JJ United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
How_RRQ do_VD0 cocci_NN2 spores_NN2 infect_VV0 the_AT body_NN1 ?_? 
Propelled_VVN by_II winds_NN2 ,_, thousands_NNO2 of_IO soil_NN1 particles_NN2 and_CC cocci_NN2 spherules_NN2 are_VBR inhaled_VVN ._. 
People_NN --_NN1 particularly_RR those_DD2 older_JJR or_CC immune-compromised_JJ --_NN1 may_VM experience_VVI flu-like_JJ symptoms_NN2 that_CST can_VM turn_VVI into_II pneumonia_NN1 ._. 
If_CS the_AT infection_NN1 disseminates_VVZ ,_, the_AT pathogens_NN2 can_VM target_VVI any_DD organ_NN1 --_NN1 mostly_RR the_AT nervous_JJ system_NN1 ,_, skin_NN1 ,_, bones_NN2 and_CC joints_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC become_VV0 life_NN1 threatening_VVG ._. 
Each_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT American_JJ Academy_NN1 of_IO Microbiology_NP1 ,_, about_RG 200,000_MC Americans_NN2 contract_NN1 valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ,_, and_CC 200_MC of_IO them_PPHO2 die_VV0 ._. 
But_CCB some_DD experts_NN2 believe_VV0 the_AT disease_NN1 is_VBZ vastly_RR underreported_JJ ._. 
Between_II 1991_MC and_CC 1993_MC ,_, health_NN1 care_NN1 costs_VVZ for_IF valley_NN1 fever_NN1 exceeded_VVD $66_NNU million_NNO ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT Pan_NP1 American_JJ Center_NN1 for_IF Human_JJ Ecology_NN1 and_CC Health_NN1 ._. 
The_AT group_NN1 Physicians_NN2 for_IF Social_JJ Responsibility_NN1 says_VVZ global_JJ warming_NN1 will_VM multiply_VVI the_AT incidence_NN1 due_II21 to_II22 increased_JJ airborne_JJ dust_NN1 and_CC sandstorms_NN2 ._. 
Higher_JJR wind_NN1 speeds_NN2 and_CC drought_NN1 upped_VVD Arizona_NP1 's_GE yearly_JJ count_NN1 from_II 33_MC cases_NN2 of_IO valley_NN1 fever_NN1 per_II 100,000_MC in_II 1998_MC to_II 43_MC per_II 100,000_MC in_II 2001_MC ,_, said_VVD Dale_NP1 Griffin_NP1 of_IO the_AT U.S._NP1 Geological_JJ Survey_NN1 in_II St._NP1 Petersburg_NP1 ,_, Florida_NP1 ._. 
The_AT number_NN1 of_IO cases_NN2 in_II Arizona_NP1 more_RRR than_CSN quadrupled_VVN from_II 1997_MC to_II 2006_MC ,_, according_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 Mayo_NP1 Clinic_NN1 study_NN1 ._. 
During_II that_DD1 same_DA period_NN1 ,_, incidence_NN1 rates_NN2 in_II California_NP1 jumped_VVD from_II 2.5_MC to_II 8.4_MC cases_NN2 per_II 100,000_MC people_NN ._. 
Rising_VVG disease_NN1 rates_NN2 worry_VV0 physician-researchers_NN2 like_II Dr._NNB John_NP1 Galgiani_NP1 ,_, director_NN1 of_IO the_AT valley_NN1 Fever_NN1 Center_NN1 for_IF Excellence_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Arizona_NP1 in_II Tucson_NP1 ._. 
A_ZZ1 cocci_NN2 pioneer_NN1 who_PNQS has_VHZ spent_VVN much_DA1 of_IO his_APPGE career_NN1 investigating_VVG the_AT microscopic_JJ organisms_NN2 ,_, Galgiani_NP1 knows_VVZ their_APPGE strong_JJ spore_NN1 casings_NN2 defend_VV0 against_II high_JJ temperature_NN1 ,_, UV_JJ light_NN1 and_CC dust_NN1 storms_NN2 ._. 
University_NN1 of_IO Arizona_NP1 Geographer_NN1 Andrew_NP1 C._NP1 Comrie_NP1 says_VVZ Arizona_NP1 's_GE precipitation_NN1 and_CC dust_NN1 rates_NN2 are_VBR good_JJ predictors_NN2 of_IO spikes_NN2 in_II valley_NN1 fever_NN1 cases_NN2 ,_, and_CC studies_NN2 have_VH0 reported_VVN that_RG much_DA1 of_IO the_AT variability_NN1 between_II 1992_MC and_CC 2005_MC was_VBDZ due_II21 to_II22 climate_NN1 ._. 
For_IF Bill_NP1 Sprigg_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 climatologist_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Arizona_NP1 ,_, violations_NN2 of_IO federal_JJ air_NN1 quality_NN1 standards_NN2 for_IF particulates_NN2 in_II the_AT Southwest_ND1 correlate_NN1 to_II an_AT1 overall_RR higher_JJR incidence_NN1 of_IO valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ._. 
Other_JJ factors_NN2 also_RR might_VM contribute_VVI to_II the_AT higher_JJR rates_NN2 of_IO the_AT disease_NN1 ,_, including_II population_NN1 growth_NN1 ,_, improved_JJ reporting_NN1 and_CC greater_JJR numbers_NN2 of_IO people_NN over_II age_NN1 65_MC ._. 
Forecasts_NN2 of_IO rising_VVG temperatures_NN2 and_CC moisture_NN1 levels_NN2 and_CC alternating_JJ hot-dry_JJ and_CC wet_JJ periods_NN2 create_VV0 a_AT1 hospitable_JJ environment_NN1 for_IF cocci_NN2 ._. 
During_II the_AT hot_JJ months_NNT2 ,_, when_CS other_JJ organisms_NN2 die_VV0 off_RP on_II the_AT surface_NN1 ,_, cocci_NN2 survive_VV0 several_DA2 layers_NN2 down_RP ._. 
Then_RT when_CS rain_NN1 falls_NN2 ,_, the_AT fungus_NN1 grows_VVZ freely_RR without_IW competing_JJ organisms_NN2 ._. 
Comrie_NP1 calls_VVZ this_DD1 his_APPGE "_" grow_VV0 and_CC blow_VV0 "_" theory_NN1 ._. 
Higher_JJR temperatures_NN2 not_XX only_RR enhance_VV0 fungal_JJ growth_NN1 ,_, but_CCB also_RR lead_VV0 to_II the_AT burn_NN1 off_II21 of_II22 much_DA1 vegetation_NN1 ._. 
With_IW fewer_DAR roots_NN2 ,_, leaves_NN2 and_CC branches_NN2 holding_VVG back_RP desert_NN1 soil_NN1 ,_, storms_NN2 can_VM churn_VVI up_RP more_DAR dust_NN1 in_II wider_JJR areas_NN2 of_IO open_JJ space_NN1 ._. 
Earthquakes_NN2 and_CC landslides_NN2 also_RR awaken_VV0 millions_NNO2 of_IO spores_NN2 ,_, dispersing_VVG the_AT disease_NN1 far_RR and_CC wide_JJ ._. 
After_CS the_AT 1994_MC Northridge_NP1 earthquake_NN1 in_II California_NP1 ,_, health_NN1 professionals_NN2 saw_VVD a_AT1 sharp_JJ increase_NN1 in_II new_JJ valley_NN1 fever_NN1 cases_NN2 ._. 
Comrie_NP1 believes_VVZ climate_NN1 change_NN1 may_VM impact_NN1 valley_NN1 fever_NN1 more_RRR than_CSN other_JJ infectious_JJ diseases_NN2 ._. 
"_" The_AT key_JJ word_NN1 is_VBZ direct_JJ ,_, "_" Comrie_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" Changes_NN2 in_II temperature_NN1 and_CC precipitation_NN1 will_VM be_VBI felt_VVN directly_RR in_II the_AT soil_NN1 where_CS the_AT fungus_NN1 lives_NN2 ,_, in_II contrast_NN1 to_II ,_, say_VV0 ,_, West_ND1 Nile_NP1 virus_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ would_VM see_VVI second_MD or_CC third-order_JJ climate_NN1 effects_NN2 through_II mosquito_NN1 vectors_NN2 and_CC bird_NN1 hosts_NN2 and_CC their_APPGE responses_NN2 to_II climate_NN1 ._. "_" 
Cocci_NN2 neither_RR requires_VVZ an_AT1 animal_NN1 host_NN1 nor_CC does_VDZ it_PPH1 possess_VVI "_" adaptation_NN1 potential_NN1 ;_; "_" that_REX41 is_REX42 to_REX43 say_REX44 ,_, in_II the_AT absence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 vaccine_NN1 or_CC other_JJ curative_JJ agent_NN1 ,_, the_AT spores_NN2 win_VV0 ._. 
The_AT steady_JJ rise_NN1 in_II cases_NN2 comes_VVZ at_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 when_RRQ budget_NN1 deficits_NN2 and_CC shifting_JJ state_NN1 and_CC national_JJ priorities_NN2 frustrate_VV0 researchers_NN2 ._. 
Although_CS the_AT National_JJ Institutes_NN2 of_IO Health_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 classified_JJ cocci_NN2 as_II a_AT1 bioterrorist_NN1 weapon_NN1 (_( Category_NN1 C_ZZ1 Priority_NN1 Pathogen_NN1 )_) ,_, its_APPGE rare_JJ disease_NN1 status_NN1 and_CC lack_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 national_JJ market_NN1 discourage_VV0 pharmaceutical_JJ companies_NN2 from_II developing_VVG a_AT1 preventive_JJ vaccine_NN1 or_CC drug_NN1 cure_NN1 ._. 
Experts_NN2 believe_VV0 fungi_NN2 can_VM travel_VVI long_JJ distances_NN2 because_CS the_AT spore_NN1 "_" housing_NN1 "_" acts_VVZ like_II a_AT1 cocoon_NN1 ,_, protecting_VVG the_AT fungus_NN1 from_II environmental_JJ stresses_NN2 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 Andrew_NP1 S._NP1 Goudie_NP1 ,_, of_IO Oxford_NP1 University_NN1 in_II the_AT United_NP1 Kingdom_NP1 ,_, dust_NN1 storms_NN2 transport_NN1 material_NN1 over_II many_DA2 "_" thousands_NNO2 of_IO kilometers_NNU2 ._. "_" 
Indeed_RR ,_, satellite_NN1 images_NN2 show_VV0 wind-borne_JJ dust_NN1 originating_VVG from_II the_AT Sahara_NP1 and_CC Gobi_JJ deserts_NN2 of_IO Africa_NP1 and_CC drifting_VVG to_II South_ND1 America_NP1 ,_, the_AT Caribbean_JJ and_CC the_AT southern_JJ United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
Researchers_NN2 examining_VVG samples_NN2 found_VVD more_DAR than_CSN 140_MC "_" hitchhiking_JJ "_" organisms_NN2 ._. 
Griffin_NP1 ,_, the_AT USGS_NP2 microbiologist_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ one_MC1 gram_NNU1 of_IO desert_NN1 soil_NN1 can_VM contain_VVI as_RG many_DA2 as_CSA one_MC1 billion_NNO microorganisms_NN2 ._. 
Any_DD type_NN1 of_IO disturbance_NN1 in_II soil_NN1 --_NN1 from_II natural_JJ forces_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 wind_NN1 or_CC earthquakes_NN2 or_CC from_II man_NN1 --_NN1 initiated_VVD activities_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 construction_NN1 or_CC off-road_JJ vehicles_NN2 --_NN1 could_VM spread_VVI valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ._. 
No_AT evidence_NN1 yet_RR exists_VVZ that_CST cocci_NN2 has_VHZ trespassed_VVN beyond_II the_AT boundaries_NN2 of_IO Arizona_NP1 ,_, California_NP1 ,_, Mexico_NP1 and_CC parts_NN2 of_IO Central_JJ and_CC South_ND1 America_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB Sprigg_NP1 and_CC Comrie_NP1 say_VV0 this_DD1 may_VM be_VBI due_RR more_RRR to_II budgetary_JJ constraints_NN2 and_CC the_AT dearth_NN1 of_IO studies_NN2 of_IO dust-borne_JJ microorganisms_NN2 ._. 
And_CC since_CS the_AT symptoms_NN2 of_IO valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 fatigue_NN1 ,_, fever_NN1 and_CC lack_NN1 of_IO appetite_NN1 ,_, are_VBR common_JJ ,_, misdiagnosis_NN1 can_VM easily_RR occur_VVI and_CC often_RR does_VDZ ._. 
Merry_JJ Buckley_NP1 writes_VVZ in_II the_AT American_JJ Academy_NN1 of_IO Microbiology_NP1 's_GE 2007_MC Tucson_NP1 conference_NN1 report_NN1 that_CST fungal_JJ diseases_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ,_, are_VBR often_RR treated_VVN nonspecifically_RR due_II21 to_II22 inconclusive_JJ testing_NN1 results_NN2 ._. 
"_" Is_VBZ the_AT fungus_NN1 in_II Africa_NP1 ?_? "_" 
Sprigg_NN1 asks_VVZ rhetorically_RR ._. 
"_" Is_VBZ it_PPH1 possible_JJ 'pneumonia-like'_JJ symptoms_NN2 of_IO troops_NN2 returning_VVG from_II Iraq_NP1 could_VM be_VBI related_VVN to_II valley_NN1 fever_NN1 ?_? "_" 
His_APPGE point_NN1 is_VBZ simple_JJ :_: If_CS health_NN1 care_NN1 professionals_NN2 do_VD0 not_XX look_VVI for_IF it_PPH1 ,_, they_PPHS2 are_VBR not_XX likely_JJ to_TO find_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
So_RR until_CS a_AT1 global_JJ inventory_NN1 describing_VVG the_AT various_JJ species_NN and_CC locations_NN2 of_IO the_AT world_NN1 's_GE fungi_NN2 is_VBZ carried_VVN out_RP ,_, no_PN121 one_PN122 can_VM say_VVI for_RR21 certain_RR22 what_DDQ the_AT potential_JJ scope_NN1 of_IO cocci_NN2 --_NN1 or_CC any_DD other_JJ fungal_JJ infection_NN1 --_NN1 really_RR might_VM be_VBI ._. 
One_MC1 step_NN1 toward_II mitigating_JJ dust_NN1 --_NN1 transported_VVD pathogens_NN2 is_VBZ the_AT World_NN1 Meteorological_JJ Organization_NN1 's_GE plan_NN1 to_TO establish_VVI a_AT1 sand_NN1 dust_NN1 warning_NN1 system_NN1 with_IW nine_MC regional_JJ centers_NN2 ._. 
Meanwhile_RR ,_, a_AT1 computer-based_JJ system_NN1 launched_VVN by_II NASA_NP1 in_II 2004_MC to_TO forecast_VVI dust_NN1 storms_NN2 in_II the_AT Southwest_ND1 recently_RR proved_VVD it_PPH1 can_VM use_VVI land_NN1 topography_NN1 ,_, the_AT land-water_JJ ratio_NN1 and_CC surface_NN1 roughness_NN1 to_TO correctly_RR predict_VVI two_MC out_II21 of_II22 three_MC dust_NN1 storms_NN2 so_BCL21 as_BCL22 to_TO warn_VVI Arizona_NP1 residents_NN2 ._. 
Whether_CSW prior_JJ notice_NN1 will_VM lower_VVI the_AT incidence_NN1 of_IO valley_NN1 fever_NN1 has_VHZ not_XX been_VBN determined_VVN ._. 
"_" There_RL really_RR is_VBZ a_RR21 lot_RR22 more_DAR science_NN1 that_CST would_VM be_VBI desirable_JJ in_II this_DD1 area_NN1 ,_, "_" Comrie_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
