With a series of Facebook posts over the past two weeks, the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence has helped promote the Arizona Department of Health Services announcement of winners in last fall’s Valley Fever Awareness Poster Contest.
“Thank you to the Arizona Department of Health Services and all of the talented participants in this year’s poster contest for helping to increase awareness about Valley fever,” said Lisa Higgins, MPH, the center’s associate director for Valley Fever Initiatives.
“When people or pets that we love get sick and aren’t getting better, it’s time to think that Valley fever could be the reason. Everyone in the state of Arizona should be aware of this – this poster contest has been wonderful to help share the message!”
The posts are embedded at the bottom of this article.
The grand prize winners are Ja’Maryn H., age 9 from Maricopa County and Jennifer S., age 17 from Pima County. Ten others, ranging from age 5 to 16, were named winners and posted to the ADHS website for the Poster Contest. Scroll down or check out the Gallery tab at ADHS for posters of all the winners.
All posters incorporated some (or all) of the following messages to increase the public’s knowledge about Valley Fever:
- Know the signs and symptoms of Valley Fever
- Ask your doctor to test you if you think you have Valley Fever
- Stay out of blowing dust
- Wet the ground before disturbing the soil
- ANYONE can get Valley Fever – even healthy people, DOGS, and other pets
Congratulations and thank you to all participants! Check back in October for news on 2019’s contest.
NOTE TO MEDIA: For educational pamphlets, brochures, images and graphics related to Valley fever—as well as contact information for University of Arizona faculty knowledgeable about the illness—visit the following webpage: UA Expertise on Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
About UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence
In 1996, the Arizona Board of Regents established the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona to address problems created by a fungus, Coccidioides, that’s endemic to soils of the U.S. Southwest and the cause of Valley fever. Some cases are mild; some so severe that it spreads past the lungs. It also affects animals, including pets and livestock. The center, which is affiliated with the UA Colleges of Medicine - Tucson and Phoenix through the UA Department of Medicine and UA Division of Infectious Diseases, works to spread public awareness and education about Valley fever, promote high-quality care for the disease and pursue research to improve treatment therapies and develop a vaccine. Learn more: vfce.arizona.edu
About the UA Department of Medicine
The University of Arizona Department of Medicine is one of six original departments and the largest at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson, with 14 divisions covering medical subspecialties from cardiology to infectious diseases to rheumatology. The faculty includes more than 250 physicians who help train more than 70 fellows in 18 fellowship programs, 130 residents in internal medicine and dermatology, and 450 medical students engaged in clerkships, sub-internships and research opportunities. Affiliated with UA institutes and centers of excellence and collaborative cohorts across the nation and world, the department’s investigators are leading research into development of personalized precision medicine therapies for both basic and complex diseases to improve the lives of people in Arizona and abroad. Learn more: deptmedicine.arizona.edu
ALSO SEE:
“Photo Galleries Underscore Busy New Year for UA Department of Medicine” (see Farness lecture link at bottom) | Posted Feb. 11, 2019
“Valley Fever Awareness Week, More Like a Month in 2018, Promoted by UA Center” | Posted Nov. 16, 2018
“New UA/Banner Health Valley Fever Clinical Guidelines to Help Avoid Delays in Diagnosis” | Posted Nov. 14, 2018
“New UA/Banner Health Valley Fever Clinical Guidance Designed to Avert Diagnoses Delays” | Posted Oct. 8, 2018
“UA Valley Fever Center, ADHS, Tucson’s Pueblo High Host Youth Awareness Poster Contest” | Posted Oct. 5, 2018