Summer dust storms like what the Valley experienced this week can be impressive to watch. But those haboobs also come with health risks, especially for the unhoused population.
Dr. Frank LoVecchio works in the emergency department at Valleywise Health in Phoenix.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are homeless and were outside during this, and many of them kind of came in," LoVecchio said.
He says the most common medical issues are coughing, shortness of breath and eye irritation.
He says other at-risk populations include those who are elderly and "people with underlying lung disease, especially asthma or COPD or other respiratory illnesses. People with heart disease are a little bit more prone to getting worse during these times.”
Haboobs can also increase the risk of valley fever, which is caused by fungus spores that live in the soil and are inhaled when dust is kicked up by winds.
The latest data from the state health department shows nearly 9,000 cases of valley fever this year. LoVecchio says his emergency room generally sees a 10% increase in patients after a dust storm.
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