The Fungus That Lives in Your Lungs Forever 😱
The speaker recounts personal and secondhand experiences with Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling prehistoric spores in dust near Coalinga, California. The infection can permanently reside in the lungs and has caused serious medical consequences for military personnel, including lung loss and medical retirement.
Summary
In this short clip, the speaker discusses Valley fever, a serious fungal lung infection linked to inhaling spores found in dust in the Coalinga, California area. The speaker references Mike Ritland, a well-known Navy SEAL, who contracted the disease so severely that he lost a lung as a result. The infection is described as being caused by prehistoric fungal spores present in the local dust, which when inhaled during windy conditions can take hold in the lungs permanently.
The speaker shares a personal account of contracting Valley fever as well, though not to the same devastating degree as Ritland. Their symptoms included extreme illness, significant weight loss, and sunken eyes. The speaker also notes that the condition had serious consequences within military circles — someone from their sniper school was medically retired due to the disease. As a result of these health risks, the SEAL Teams have reportedly stopped conducting operations or training in the Coalinga area.
Key Insights
- The speaker claims that the SEAL Teams no longer go to Coalinga specifically because of the risk of Valley fever from fungal spores in the dust.
- The speaker states that Mike Ritland, a Navy SEAL, lost an entire lung as a result of contracting Valley fever.
- The speaker describes the spores as 'prehistoric,' suggesting the fungus is an ancient organism embedded in the regional soil and dust.
- The speaker personally contracted Valley fever and experienced severe symptoms including major weight loss and sunken eyes, though did not lose lung function.
- The speaker reports that at least one person from their sniper school was medically retired due to Valley fever.
Topics
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