Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) and health disparities in African Americans and Latinos in California

Statement of Problem: Coccidioidomycosis (CM) is an infectious disease acquired by inhaling the air born spores of the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. Coccidioides species is endemic to the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Central and South America. Even mild symptomatic CM is associated with significant morbidity resulting in days or weeks away from school or work. Latinos and Blacks in California experience a disproportionally higher frequency of CM disease with its accompanying morbidity compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The CM case rate per 100,000 for Blacks for the years 2001, 2006, 2009, and 2010 respectively is: 2.0, 12.6, 8.9 and 10.9. The rate for Latinos in those given years is: 4.6, 7.4, 5.4, and 8.1 and Whites: 1.2, 4.4, 2.8, and 4.3 which are 2 to 3 times lower a rate for Blacks and 2 to 4 times lower than that for Latinos. Even mild symptomatic CM is associated with significant morbidity resulting in days or weeks away from school or work. An understanding of the risk factors and social determinate differences contributing to the racial/ethnic patterns of CM disease and how they interact is not fully understood. This presentation will utilize GIS data to examine from a health disparities framework some of those factors--the role of place and contextual factors associated with place of residence, occupational exposures, and SES of Blacks and Latinos in California. Conclusions: This presentation will show the correlation of housing policies, race segregated occupations and SES to the creation of risk clusters of CM for Blacks and Latinos in California. Policy recommendations for subsidized housing policies and land assessments to reduce health disparities of CM in Blacks and Latinos are discussed.