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Oct 10, 2008 11:58 am US/Pacific

Officials Warn Of Valley Fever Due To High Winds

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY (AP) ―

A health warning brought on by high winds is expected to last through today in the San Joaquin Valley.

Agricultural harvesting and a lack of rain have left high amounts of particulate matter in the top soil that carries the fungus that causes Valley Fever.

Because of the heightened risk of getting the fever, residents are being advised to keep their windows closed, to wear masks when working outdoors and to wipe away dust on window ledges.

The symptoms of Valley Fever include a fever which can reach 104°F, dry cough, chest pains, joint and muscle aches, headache, and weight loss. About two weeks after the start of the fever, some people develop a painful red rash or lumps on the lower legs. The symptoms usually disappear without treatment in about one month.

The chronic form of Valley Fever can develop as many as 20 years after initial infection and, in the lungs, can produce inflamed, injured areas that can fill with pus.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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