Respiratory Virus Flu  Alert for Wa State
Recent earthquakes from Wa state may disturb the dirt. The dirt may be flying in the air and in the wind.

Magnitude 3.4 February 22, 2025 Maple Valley, WA
Magnitude 2.3 February 21, 2025 Centralia, WA
Magnitude 2.2 February 22, 2025 Mt St Helens, WA
Magnitude 1.6 February 20, 2025 Mt Baker, WA
Magnitude 1.5 February 20, 2025 Aberdeen, WA
Magnitude 1.3 February 20, 2025 Bremerton, WA

There are diseases that appear when the dirt is disturbed.

 Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, but

Because Valley fever has the same symptoms as pneumonia caused by bacteria or viruses, it is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. This can lead to ineffective treatments or delays in appropriate antifungal treatment for people who need it.

 Valley fever is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides  organisms. Like seeds from plants, a fungus grows and spreads from tiny spores that are too small to see. When soil or dirt are stirred up by strong winds or while digging, dust containing these fungal spores can get into the air. It can cause signs and symptoms such as a fever, cough and tiredness.

  Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in fungal spores from the soil. Valley Fever  lives in dust and soil  in lives in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and in south-central Washington. The fungi's spores can be stirred into the air by anything that disrupts the soil, such as earthquakes, farming, construction and wind

People can then breathe the fungi into their lungs. Mild cases of valley fever usually resolve on their own. In more-severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal medications.

The initial, or acute, form of valley fever is often mild, with few or no symptoms. Signs and symptoms occur one to three weeks after exposure. They tend to be similar to flu symptoms. Symptoms can range from minor to severe, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Joint aches and muscle soreness
• Red, spotty rash, mainly on lower legs but sometimes on the chest, arms and back

If you don't become ill or have symptoms from valley fever, you may only find out you've been infected later. You may find out when you have a positive skin or blood test or when small areas of residual infection in the lungs (nodules) show up on a routine chest X-ray. The nodules typically don't cause problems, but they can look like cancer on X-rays.

If you develop symptoms, especially severe ones, the course of the disease is highly variable. It can take months to fully recover. Fatigue and joint aches can last even longer. The disease's severity depends on several factors, including your overall health and the number of fungus spores you inhale.

If the initial Valley Fever infection doesn't completely resolve, it may progress to a chronic form of pneumonia. This complication is most common in people with weakened immune systems.

People who live in these areas can try to avoid spending time in dusty places, close windows and doors to prevent dust accumulation, and use air filtration in homes and vehicles. People who are at risk for severe disease should avoid areas with lots of dust, such as construction or excavation sites, or wear an N95 respirator if dust cannot be avoided.

Arsenic in the soil can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Exposure can occur by swallowing or inhaling contaminated soil.

Short-term effects 

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, shaking, cough, and headache.

Long-term effects 

• Skin pigmentation changes
• Numbness
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Cancer of the bladder, lung, skin,
  kidney, liver, and prostate
   

What is arsenic and why is it in the environment?

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is normally present throughout our environment in water, soil, dust, air, and food. Levels of arsenic can vary from place to place due to farming and industrial activity as well as natural geological processes such as earthquakes.

• Although they are no longer used, arsenic compounds were once the most widely applied pesticides in Washington.
• Past emissions from metal-refining smelters in Tacoma and Everett have contaminated soil with arsenic.
• The arsenic from smelting tends to bind strongly to soil and is expected to remain near the surface of the land for hundreds of years as a long-term source of exposure.
• Wood that has been treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is commonly found in decks and railing in existing homes and outdoor structures such as playground equipment. It has not been sold for those uses since about 2004.
• Some underground aquifers are located in rock or soil that has naturally high arsenic content. Well water pumped from these aquifers can have arsenic levels that exceed public health safety standards.
  
  Swallowing relatively large amounts of arsenic (even just one time) can cause mild symptoms, serious illness, or death. Milder effects may include swelling of the face, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea.
  
  Gardening around arsenic: Best practices
• The goal of these suggestions is to reduce the amount of contaminated soil that you unintentionally swallow or breathe in while gardening or working around your home. Follow these guidelines to reduce your exposure:
• Wear gloves while gardening.
• Wash all vegetables carefully and peel vegetables where possible. Be sure to remove particles of soil on the food item. Wash inside crevices (e.g. broccoli and cauliflower).
• Though there is evidence that vegetables and fruits may take up small amounts of arsenic into their roots or leaves, a more serious problem could come from eating fruits and vegetables that have bits of contaminated soils stuck to them.
• Add clean soils or soil supplements such as compost or mulch to your existing garden. Clean soils are ones that are known to be contaminant-free. If you are unclear whether your new soils are clean you may consider testing.
• Consider establishing a raised bed using clean soils.
• Do not garden in soils with arsenic in excess of 20 ppm (parts per million). Bring in clean soils and build a raised bed instead.
• Dampen soils with water before you garden to limit the amount of dust you inhale.
• Follow guidelines below to reduce your exposure to contaminated soils.
• Guidelines for reducing your exposure to contaminated soils
• Arsenic does not decompose, biodegrade or move downward through soils and will remain permanently in the top layers of soil unless it is removed. Therefore, if you suspect your soils are contaminated you should take the following exposure reduction measures:
• Keep children from playing in contaminated dirt. The most likely way to become exposed to arsenic is from ingesting (eating) dirt; toddlers and young children tend to play in dirt and then put their hands/toys/other items in their mouths. Some children (over two years old) and adults eat dirt on purpose.
• Frequently wash toys, pacifiers and other items that go into children's mouths.
• Cover bare soils with grass or other material.
• Wash hands and face thoroughly after working or playing in the soil, especially before eating. Do not eat, chew or smoke in areas with contaminated soil.
• Wash garden vegetables and fruits carefully to remove all soil particles. Take care to get dirt out of the crevices of vegetables such as broccoli.
• Remove work and play shoes before entering the house.
• Wash soil-laden clothes separately from other clothes.
• Damp-mop floors and wipe down counters, tables and window ledges regularly. Do not use a vacuum as a method to keep contaminated dust under control. Vacuum cleaners DO NOT reduce dust and tend to stir it up into your breathing zone. If you prefer to use a vacuum cleaner, use one with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.
• Prevent pets from tracking contaminated soils into your home. Keep them out of areas with exposed dirt.
• Consider wearing a mask if you spend time in dusty environments.
  
  Stay curious, Stay Safe until next time.