WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, requesting an update on the Canine Valley Fever Vaccine currently under review with the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

“When government clears bureaucratic hurdles in the health care industry, people, and animals, win,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “I hope that the Biden Administration does everything it can to move the Canine Valley Fever Vaccine through the review process as quickly as possible.”

Valley Fever is a fungal infection endemic to the southwestern United States contracted by breathing in fungal spores. Dogs are very susceptible to Valley Fever, and the potential of a Canine Valley Fever Vaccine would significantly reduce the number of disease cases and address areas of great clinical need. Approval of a canine vaccine would also present a significant milestone in pursuing a desperately needed human vaccine.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that Valley Fever remained one of the most commonly reported infectious diseases in Arizona during the pandemic and the most common non-communicable infectious disease. Recent studies show the actual incidence of Valley Fever in humans may be 33x higher due to underreporting, misdiagnosis, and visitors or newer residents in the state may not be as familiar with its symptoms.

Read the letter here.

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