Symposium to focus on Valley Fever is set for Bakersfield this week. Top CDC and National Institutes of Health brass will attend

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. His focus this week: the upcoming Valley Fever Symposium.

 "Our Valley Fever Symposium is upon us.  On Monday and Tuesday,  I invite you to join me, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins at a symposium on Valley Fever where we will host an open discussion with the community to learn more about this disease.

 "Caused by the Coccidioides fungus native to the soil in our region, Valley Fever has become known as a “silent epidemic” as it only takes one breath to become infected.  In our community, all of us know someone who has been impacted by this disease - even our pets can contract it.  However, the effects experienced by those affected vary greatly.  Some individuals who catch Valley Fever recover in several weeks after experiencing only flu-like symptoms.  Others may take months to overcome it, and experience a much broader range of devastating effects. And some have died from this disease.



"Despite its widespread impact on the western United States, no vaccine or effective treatment exists.  Our symposium addresses this problem by starting a community discussion with leading national experts on Valley Fever who will share the most recent developments, goals, and challenges ahead.  Most importantly, we want to hear your stories and ideas, and I hope you join us in our fight against this disease.

The full schedule is below:



Monday, September 23, 2013 – Recognizing Our Valley Fever Survivors

Location: Kern County Department of Public Health – Hans Einstein Center

1800 Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA



4:30 PM – Valley Fever Survivors Reception

5:30 PM – Valley Fever Community Forum with CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D. and NIH Director Francis Collins, M.D.



Tuesday, September 24, 2013 – Fighting Valley Fever

Location: California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Multipurpose Room inside the Student Union

Parking Lot L is reserved for attendees

9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA

7:30 a.m. - Registration/Check in

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - State of the Science, Presentations from Leading Experts on Valley Fever

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – The Congressional Valley Fever Task Force

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – California Public Policy and Challenges

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Susceptible Populations of Valley Fever


4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Pets/Animals and Valley Fever