California Assemblyman Rudy Salas' introduced a new package of four bills on Monday that aim to boost valley fever awareness and treatment.
Healthcare Regulation and Reform
Advocates for valley fever research give California Assemblyman Rudy Salas an “A” for effort for the "most robust" legislative effort to address the disease in state history.
Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, will introduce two bills Wednesday aimed at combating valley fever, the orphan disease which infected Californians at epidemic levels last year.
Bakersfield lawmakers requested $3 million in the state budget last week to research treatments and conduct outreach for valley fever.
Just 48 people have signed up across California and Arizona for a new clinical trial of Fluconazole, an antifungal drug used to treat valley fever. That's far fewer than officials had expected.
Recently signed legislation capped a big year for efforts to combat a regional disease long overlooked by lawmakers.
Research suggests an alarming link between a common drug used for valley fever and birth defects. The disease also tends to be more severe in pregnant women.
‘Eureka moment’ in valley fever case paves way for new research, treatment options.
Researchers have been trying to understand valley fever for decades, but the playing field remained small until recently.
Former California Gov. Jerry Brown pledged $8 million in state money to fight valley fever in the final 2018-2019 budget, split between the University of California and the new Valley Fever Institute.