Get the word out about valley fever

Thank you for your recent piece on valley fever, the Central Valley's dirty little secret ("It's past time to find a cure for valley fever," Nov. 19 editorial).

As a valley fever patient I know full well the need to find a cure for this disease. I contracted the illness in November 2011 and it took five doctors seven months, numerous tests, surgery and ultimately a misdiagnosis of cancer before a simple blood test revealed the cause of my suffering.

Local doctors need to educate themselves better and local health officials need to get the word out about this insidious disease.

WILLIAM BEATIE

Modesto