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Videos: The Faces and Voices of Valley Fever

Fellowship Story Showcase

Videos: The Faces and Voices of Valley Fever

Beginning this weekend, we explore the human cost of this disease by asking those who are suffering to share their stories.

Patients Tell Their Stories
Friday, September 14, 2012 - 4:00pm

The number of valley fever cases has soared so high in recent years that health experts are calling it “The Second Epidemic.” The Reporting on Health Collaborative is exploring the rise of cases, the tricky science of studying the disease, the high costs to patients and taxpayers, the lack of private interest in funding treatments and vaccines, and the long history of inaction by government agencies.

Beginning this weekend, we also explore the human cost of this disease, which never leaves the body once it takes root. And that can best be told by sharing the stories of the everyday lives of those living with valley fever. To see and hear from survivors and people who lost loved ones to the disease, visit our Valley Fever Project playlist on YouTube.

 http://bit.ly/PgLfmQ

About This Series

This project results from a new venture – the Reporting On Health collaborative – which involves the Bakersfield Californian, the Merced Sun-Star, Radio Bilingüe in Fresno, The Record in Stockton, Valley Public Radio in Fresno and Bakersfield, Vida en el Valle in Fresno, the Voice of OC in Santa Ana and ReportingonHealth.org. The collaborative is an initiative of The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

RELATED STORIES THIS WEEK

State Raises Questions About Moving Inmates At Risk of Valley Fever

California's Attorney General has questioned the feasibility of the federal order to move more than 3,000 inmates especially vulnerable to valley fever from two Central Valley prisons.

State Prison Officials: Receiver's Valley Fever Policy 'Premature'

Officials say they need "further clarification" before they can implement an order from the federal receiver in charge of California's prison system that requires inmates vulnerable to valley fever be moved from Central Valley prisons.

Prison Health Advocates Call For More Steps to Stop Valley Fever Outbreak

State and experts are now digesting the directive for California's Department of Corrections to remove inmates from two Central Valley prisons, who are especially at risk of contracting valley fever.

Experts hail step to move at-risk inmates out of valley fever hot spots

Still, moving thousands of prisoners is a massive endeavor complicated by factors such as inmates’ security levels, and medical, mental health and rehabilitation needs.

Inmates At Risk of Valley Fever To Be Moved From Two Valley Prisons

Over the last seven years, 40 California state prisoners have died with valley fever as either the primary or the secondary cause of death. For this reason, the prison system has been ordered to transfer at risk inmates from two facilities in endemic areas.
All of this week's stories >