Travel Advisory
Dear players, coaches, coordinators and fans of the Stanford Invite;
We feel it is important that you and your teams have the following information about health concerns in the area around Stevinson, where Stanford Invite 2009 is going to be held.
While hosting NW Club Regionals at this site in 2007, we found out that a specific fungal disease, known as 'valley fever', can infect people who live or work in California's Central Valley. We are sending you this email to keep you informed about these hazards, so that you can make the best possible choices for you and your players.
The following is background information on 'valley fever' (aka coccidiodiomycosis) and a doctor's opinion on playing and Ultimate tournament in the area.
From: http://www.climas.arizona.edu/research/vf/background.html
Incidence Map at: http://www.climas.arizona.edu/research/vf/figures/figure1.html
Background on Coccidiodiomycosis
Each year, an estimated 100,000 people contract valley fever (medical name coccidioidomycosis)a lung infection caused by a soil-dwelling fungus found primarily in the desert regions of Arizona and California. Most never show any symptoms, while others experience mild cold or flu-like ailments.
Less than 10% of infections progress to more severe illnesses and in rare cases the fungus moves outside the lungs to the muscles, bones, or skin. At its worst, the disease can cause a form of meningitisleading to between 50 and 100 deaths per year. Annual healthcare costs related to valley fever are upwards of $60 million.
Researchers in the 1950s discovered the microscopic culprit for the disease, the fungus Coccidioides immitis. They also noted links between outbreaks of valley fever and climatic conditions, with peak cases following heavy rainy seasons.
While researchers are still learning about the disease's link to climate, it is believed that the fungus grows during wet periods and then forms tiny spores as the soil dries out. The spores release into the air when windy conditions or human activities, such as construction, disturb the soil.
Hot weather may also be an important factor in the mix. It is believed that extremely high temperatures can sterilize the soil, possibly killing other microorganisms while C. immitis remains dormant in deeper layers of the soil. When conditions change, the fungus may return to the surface layer flourish in the soil with little competition.
No field site is perfect, and no tournament, game or practice is completely without risk. We hope this information is used by all involved parties to make the best decision for each participant.
Sincerely,
The Cultimate Team
