Deadly Valley fever on rise in the US: Why California could see record infections again
A silent threat could be waiting to make a fierce return to California.
Valley Fever
, a potentially dangerous fungal infection that affects the lungs, is once again on the rise in the US. Early 2025 data shows over 3,100 confirmed cases have already been reported statewide, which is more than the number of infections reported last year.
After a record-breaking year, California may be headed for another surge, which has raised concerns among health officials and residents alike.
The lung infection is caused by a fungus that grows in western soil, which can lead to severe or even long-term lung problems. It can turn fatal too if not treated on time and if it spreads to the brain. Every year, it leads to thousands of cases in the USA, and hundreds of people die of the infection.
What is valley fever
Valley fever, or
coccidioidomycosis
is a fungal infection in your lungs that one can contract from breathing in the fungus Coccidioides from the environment.
In the earliest stage of a Coccidioides infection, many people don't develop any symptoms or report flu-like symptoms. However, it may progress to more serious stages of coccidioidomycosis. The serious complications of the disease include pneumonia, fluid or pus in your lungs, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and ruptured pockets of fluid or air in your lungs.
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Coccidioides is commonly found in the soil in the southwest US, parts of Washington state, and Central and South America. The infection is most common in California and Arizona. The disease is spread when someone breathes in the spores, although many don't get infected. While the disease isn't contagious, there are outbreaks when there's a lot of dirt and dust.
The infection is most common in late summer and fall, and the peak is seen usually in the months of September and November.
'There is no question that the number of cases of coccidioidomycosis is enormously higher than before,' Dr. Royce Johnson, chief of the division of infectious disease and director of the Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical in California, recently told NBC News. 'If you want to see me, right now you'd have to wait until July, and that goes for my colleagues, too.'
The bulk of this year's Valley Fever cases have been reported in Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, and Fresno counties.
Kern County, known for its oil production and frequent wildfires, has long been the epicenter of outbreaks. However, new areas are emerging as hotspots. In Contra Costa County, located in the East Bay, cases have more than tripled since 2023. Merced is also experiencing a steady rise, while San Bernardino has already reported 60 more cases than it did last year.
'It appears to be spreading out,' Gail Sondermeyer Cooksey, an epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health, told the outlet.
Symptoms of valley fever
Fatigue, cough, fever, headache, shortness of breath, night sweats, muscle aches, joint pain and a red rash on the upper body or legs are some of the symptoms. However, around 10 percent would develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs. Around 1 percent may see the infection spread to their skin, bones, joints or brain.
Who is at risk
People who work outdoors are at risk. Elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women are at an increased risk.
California's swing from extreme drought to heavy rains has created ideal conditions for Valley Fever. Wet winters help the fungus grow, and dry summers break it into infectious spores. With a hot, dry summer ahead, experts warn the risk of infections may rise.
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