Thomas Fire Triggered Wave Of Valley Fever Cases
The disease was on the rise before the December fire, but January’s tally is on a pace that dwarfs the 231 cases reported in all of 2017.
Ventura County Star:
Doctors Link Valley Fever Wave To Thomas Fire
The Thomas Fire that burned 282,000 acres and replaced brush-covered hillsides with blackened, barren vistas is likely contributing to growing waves of valley fever disease in Ventura County, said area lung and infectious disease specialists. In January alone, 55 possible cases of the fungal disease with symptoms that can mimic the flu were reported in Ventura County, according to provisional data from the California Department of Public Health. (Kisken, 2/16)
In other news from across the state —
Capital Public Radio:
California’s Mental Health Physician Shortage Is Bad, And Getting Worse, Study Finds
A new report from UC San Francisco backs up what Currier is seeing on the ground. Researchers found that, if current trends continue, there will be 41 percent fewer psychiatrists than needed in California by 2028. (Caiola, 2/16)
Orange County Register:
County Scrambles To Place Homeless People In Motel Rooms In Deal To Resume Clearing Of Riverbed Encampments
Orange County outreach workers scrambled over the weekend to find enough motel rooms to house hundreds of homeless people set to be dislodged from their tent encampments at the Santa Ana River Trail as soon as Tuesday, Feb. 20. As of the weekend, at least 116 homeless people had been relocated from the riverbed to numerous local motels, according to court documents. (Walker and Graham, 2/19)
KPBS:
NRC Petitioned To Require Stronger Canisters To Store Nuclear Waste Indefinitely
A public watchdog group wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to require stronger canisters for storing spent nuclear fuel on site indefinitely. The petition comes as Southern California Edison moves spent fuel from the now decommissioned San Onofre nuclear power plant into storage next to the ocean. (St John, 2/19)