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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!duke!phs!paul
From: paul@phs.UUCP (Paul C. Dolber)
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.med
Subject: Re: Viral infections (San Joaquin Valley Fever).
Message-ID: <1040@phs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 12:31:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: phs.1040
Posted: Tue Aug 20 12:31:39 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 02:55:17 EDT
References: <191@tekig5.UUCP> <314@kitty.UUCP> <221@aoa.UUCP>, <1091@ames.UUCP>
Organization: Dept. Physiol., DUMC
Lines: 20
Keywords: biological warfare
Xref: watmath net.followup:5218 net.med:2133

Eugene Miya (ames!eugene) recently wrote in net.followup regarding the
creation of racially-specific microorganisms:

   A couple of books on the subject, one by a USA Col. and the other
   by Robin Cook on Biological warfare mention racially specific
   characteristics [in particular, cocc.*: aka San J. Valley Fever, a
   fungus]...  No need to create new germs anew when many exist already.

Coccidiodomycosis (aka "valley fever" or "San Joaquin [Valley] fever")
is indeed a fungal infection, acquired by inhalation of Coccidioides
immitis (in dust, esp. in SW USA and Chaco district of Argentina).  May
be benign or disseminated.  Approx. 50% of benign cases are asymptomatic.
Remainder have flu-like symptoms.  In 0.05-0.2% of cases, disseminated
form occurs.  Dark-skinned persons and pregnant women are more vulnerable.
85-90% of blacks and Filipinos w/disseminated form die, versus 50% of
Caucasians.  Even those with disseminated form may survive for several
years.  Think you'd better create a new one if you're after a good
racially-specific biological warfare agent.  Facts above from "Harrison's
Principles of Internal Medicine, 8th Ed." and Robbins' "Pathologic
Basis of Disease."  Regards, Paul Dolber (...duke!phs!paul).