AUSTIN, Texas (RFD News) — Texas officials are monitoring a reported rise in cases of a form of chronic kidney disease known as CKDu, particularly among farm workers.
RFD-TV Correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who said the disease is affecting young agricultural workers.
“CKDu is acronym for chronic kidney disease. It’s affecting our farm workers, particularly migrant workers, young healthy workers that otherwise would be, you wouldn’t think would have any problem.”
Miller said the exact cause remains unknown, but the disease has been linked to working in the heat and dehydration.
“We don’t know what caused it exactly. It’s still, everything about it is kind of unknown. We do know that it’s related to working in the heat, possibly getting dehydrated, actually getting dehydrated in the heat. The problem is you don’t really know you got it until it’s pretty far advanced.”
Miller said undocumented and uninsured farm workers may be less likely to seek medical care, meaning some cases may go unreported or untreated. He encouraged farm owners to provide regular water breaks and make sure employees stay hydrated while working in the heat.
Miller added there is little evidence CKDu has affected food prices, but said that could change if the problem becomes more widespread.
