title: How natural disasters change natural patterns: coccidioidomycosis imported to New Orleans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify cases of coccidioidomycosis in the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed clinical surveillance across multiple medical disciplines and among three major teaching hospitals in the greater NOLA area in the posthurricane period. Each case involved a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory evaluations, and, in the two fatal cases, a comprehensive postmortem examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified four cases of coccidioidomycosis during the posthurricane period: three with disseminated disease and one with disease limited to the respiratory tract. Two patients were co-infected with HIV and died during hospitalization; one was only diagnosed at autopsy. The two immunocompetent patients responded well to antimicrobial therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A heightened awareness of non-endemic disease is warranted in the practice of postdisaster clinical medicine and public health, as demonstrated by the appearance of coccidioidomycosis in the traditionally nonendemic NOLA area following Hurricane Katrina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schieffelin
authors.forename: Mariclara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrellas
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lartchenko
authors.forename: Farrukh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Diaz
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGoey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055820:New Orleans; D014195:Travel