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.
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134-1005, USA. nfcrum@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
Nancy
N
Crum
Carla
C
Lamb
Gregory
G
Utz
Dennis
D
Amundson
Mark
M
Wallace
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