Coccidioidomycosis outbreak among United States Navy SEALs training in a Coccidioides immitis-endemic area--Coalinga, California.
An outbreak of coccidioidomycosis among 22 Navy SEALs occurred during training exercises in Coalinga, California. Ten (45%) of the 22 men had serologic evidence of acute coccidioidomycosis, the highest attack rate ever reported for a military unit. All case patients were symptomatic, and 50% had abnormal chest radiographs. There were no cases of dissemination and no deaths to date. Coccidioidomycosis continues to be a threat to military members and civilians who reside or train in areas where Coccidioides immitis, the causative agent, is endemic.
Crum
Nancy
N
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134-1005, USA. nfcrum@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
Lamb
Carla
C
Utz
Gregory
G
Amundson
Dennis
D
Wallace
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009326:Naval Medicine
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal