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Salton Sea’s toxic debris could have Imperial County residents at higher risk for COVID-19

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April 21, 2020 5:57 PM
Published 11:48 AM

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - What was once a luxurious getaway is now responsible for toxic dust storms that have caused asthma and other respiratory diseases on Imperial County residents. 

Luis Olmedo, the Executive Director of Comite Civico Del Valle Inc. says that in the wake of COVID-19 Imperial county residents are particularly vulnerable. 

“The entire region has failed to meet federal standards for air quality." 

The CDC says that people with asthma and respiratory disease may be at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 as it can affect your respiratory tract. 

“There was a study released back in 2008 that did identify the Imperial Valley having high prevalence of asthma in school-aged children," said Olmedo.

Another 2019 study from USC shows that as many as three out of every ten people report having respiratory diseases in places like Brawley, Calipatria, and Westmorland — compared with about one out of 10 in California as a whole. 

“We are persistently exposed to polluted air and having high incidents of respiratory problems like COPD and asthma it does make us more susceptible and more vulnerable to the COVID-VIRUS.”

Local and State governments have yet to do anything about the Salton Sea or as some would call it an ecological disaster.  

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Gianella Ghiglino

Peruvian-born and LA raised Gianella Ghiglino joins the team from the San Fernando valley. “LA is the place that taught me how to breath and Peru is my breath.” She says she was inspired by the community she grew up in and began documenting her experience through poetry at the age of 7. “I wrote about everything I saw, felt and everything that inspired me.” When she entered High School she joined her school news station and realized that broadcast journalism allowed her to pursue her passion and her purpose all at once. Gianella attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish Broadcast Journalism, and Political Science. She did several internships while in College but most notably interned for PBS’s local LA station for three years. “My purpose is to share my story and of those in my community, my passion is writing.”

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