California Struggles To Even Warn Residents Valley Fever Exists, Let Alone Combat It
The disease has infected more than 75,000 people in California and Arizona, but the states have been unable to launch an effective campaign to warn the public of the dangers of valley fever.
The Bakersfield Californian:
'It Is A Disease That Is Not Respected And Not Funded.' States Skimp On Valley Fever Awareness
Valley fever infects more than 13,000 people annually in Arizona and California and kills more than 100. Yet the two states spend less on public awareness about the disease in one year than what the Bakersfield City School District spends on lunch milk for a month and less than what Pima County, Arizona's Parks and Recreation Department spent on janitorial supplies in 2016. (Innes and Pierce, 8/26)
In other public health news —
San Francisco Chronicle:
New California Law Aims To Stop Spread Of Bedbugs
A new state law designed to battle bedbugs requires California landlords to provide tenants with written information about these blood-sucking, tenacious pests and how to report suspected infestations to the landlord. The disclosure requirement took effect for new tenants July 1 and will apply to existing tenants Jan. 1. (Pender, 8/26)