The University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson and Phoenix will host special events during the 11th annual Valley Fever Awareness Week, Nov. 9-17.
Highlighting the events are two appearances by U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., co-chairman of the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, who will help promote community awareness of the disease and its impacts.
The congressman will be at a Phoenix event on Monday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m., hosted by The 3000 Club, a local service group, featuring a presentation from John Galgiani, MD, director of the UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence. The event will be held at 1741 W. Rose Garden Lane, Suites 6-9, Phoenix. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Ethel Luzario at ethel3kusa@gmail.com
Rep. Schweikert also plans to attend an event in Tucson at the end of the week, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 1-4 p.m., where a panel of physicians and scientists from the Valley Fever Center for Excellence will discuss the disease. The event will be held at the BIO5 Institute, Room 103, 1657 E. Helen St., Tucson.
Rep. Schweikert and Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., introduced the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force in July to raise awareness and initiate dialogue with the medical community, with a goal of taking legislative action to help address Valley Fever issues.
Dr. Galgiani also will give a presentation, “Value of Physical Therapy for Valley Fever Convalescence,” on Wednesday, Nov. 13, noon to 1 p.m., at Arizona Pulmonary Specialists, Ltd., 3330 N. Second St., Phoenix.
Also on Nov. 13, at 6 p.m., the St. Joseph’s Foundation in Phoenix will honor Jim and Jean Meenaghan for their support of Valley Fever initiatives at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Arizona Chapter Philanthropy Leadership Awards Dinner.
About 150,000 new Valley Fever infections occur annually in the United States. Fully two-thirds of these affect Arizonans, mostly in Maricopa County. Pets, especially dogs, also are susceptible. Some patients take many months to recover and each year Valley Fever is responsible for several dozen deaths.
For more information about Valley Fever Week, please visit the website www.vfce.arizona.edu, or call 520-626-6517 or email MDTC-VFAAC@email.arizona.edu
Valley Fever Awareness Week first was proclaimed in 2003 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano and recognizes the outstanding treatment and research conducted by the UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence and the advances in education and public health by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Media Contact: Al Bravo