Valley Fever cases spike across California, most in Kern
'We are coming off of the most impactful year of Valley Fever in Kern County with the highest number of cases and the highest number of deaths in 2024,' said Brynn Carrigan, the director of Kern County Public Health.
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Kern's cases in 2024 hit a record of almost 4,000 on the year, and 49 total deaths due to Valley Fever.
This year so far, Kern has seen 906 cases of Valley Fever. That's more than any other county.
'The state is well on it's way to having an even more impactful year than we saw in 2024,' said Carrigan.
Brynn Carrigan is the director at Kern County Public Health. She says there are a multitude of reasons why numbers are way up.
One of the biggest is climate impacts. Drought years, followed by wet years, then drought years again, 'That seems to be the ideal situation for the fungus that causes the Valley Fever infection to grow and spread.'
Carrigan also said with increased awareness of the disease, more testing is being done causing the numbers to increase as well.
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The most affected population are construction workers, landscapers, and any other job that requires breaking ground and working outside.
Carrigan said there are ways to fight it, 'Wet down that soil before you're working in the soil, if it's gonna be windy outside, we would encourage you to wear a mask. If you're gonna be traveling through an area that's endemic to Valley Fever use that recirculation mode in your car.'
Valley Fever can present itself like any other respiratory illness, so Carrigan also recommends getting tested if you experience any symptoms.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
What is 'Valley Fever?' Cases Set to Hit Record High in California
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of cases of Valley Fever have been reported so far this year in California, and numbers appear on track to break records. By the end of July, 6, 761 cases had been reported in 2025, so if cases continue at the same rate, they will surpass the current record of 12,595 cases in 2024, according to California Department of Public Health data. Newsweek has contacted the California Department of Public Health outside of regular working hours via email for comment. Why It Matters Since 2000, Valley Fever cases have been increasing, starting from fewer than 1,000 cases reported annually to more than 9,000 cases in 2019. The increase has prompted concern among experts and health officials, as it seems, due to the influence of climate change, cases may continue to rise in coming years. File photo: a woman tends to her husband who is suffering from Valley Fever in California. File photo: a woman tends to her husband who is suffering from Valley Fever in California. John Walker/The Fresno Bee via AP What Is Valley Fever? Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis or "cocci," is a disease caused by a fungus that grows in the soil in some parts of California and other southwestern states. It can affect both people and animals, and is spread through spores in the air that are breathed into the lungs, causing respiratory symptoms such as cough, fever, chest pain, and tiredness or exhaustion. Given the similarity in symptoms to other respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and even COVID, it is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported, meaning some may be given ineffective treatment or face delays in getting the right treatment. While some people may breathe in the spores and not get sick, others are at increased risk of developing a more severe illness, although this is rare. Pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, those over 60, those with diabetes and those who tend to be more exposed to dirt and dust, such as construction workers, are all at higher risk. Between 5 to 10 percent of people who get Valley Fever may develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs, while 1 percent may have an infection that spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body, such as their skin, bones, joints, or brain, according to the CDC. Many with the disease can recover on their own in weeks or months without treatment, but some may need antifungal medication for more serious infections and may require hospitalization. Where Are Cases The Highest? Valley Fever gets its name from the Central (San Joaquin) Valley as that was where cases originally were the most rife in the state, although cases have been increasing more recently in other parts of the state. The top counties for Valley Fever cases include: Fresno Madera San Joaquin Stanislaus Kern Merced San Luis Obispo Tulare Kinga Monterey Santa Barbara Ventura As of July this year, Kern had the highest number of reported cases compared to any other county, with as many as 1,945, although this was a decrease compared to July numbers in previous years. Fresno had 576 reported cases by July 31, a marked increases on 2024 and 2023 July numbers. Cases in Monterey have been rising more than in any other county though, and it was the only state which saw an increase in cases of between 200 to 300 percent across 2023 to 2025. Why Are Cases Increasing? There are a number of factors that could be impacting the prevalence of Valley Fever fungus, including that in recent years, climate change has meant California has had higher levels of drought and rainfall. During times of drought, when there are higher-than-usual temperatures alongside lower-than-usual rainfall, Valley Fever fungus can survive in the soil even when other microbes tend to die off due to the lack of water. While the fungus is believed to be dormant during a drought, so less people are likely to breathe it in, when the rain returns, the fungus can start growing again and spreading spores in dust and dirt, meaning more people can be exposed. According to the California Department of Public Health, cases of Valley Fever in the state have historically been found to be lowest during years of drought and highest in the years immediately after a drought. As it has been predicted that California is likely to remain in a continued drought-rainfall cycle in the coming years due to climate change, prevalence of Valley Fever cases seems likely to continue increasing. There is also concern among experts that climate change will see Valley Fever fungus spreading all along the coast up to Canada.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Valley fever cases spike to record levels in West Coast state, health officials warn
Cases of Valley fever are spiking in California, according to health officials. As of the end of July, there were 6,761 cases confirmed — which means if this pace continues, the total 2025 numbers will likely exceed the 12,595 cases seen in 2024. Last year's total was a new record for the state, where the average has been 7,000 to 9,000 cases annually between 2016 and 2024, per data from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The case count is likely to increase due to delays in reporting. "Valley fever is a serious illness that's here to stay in California," said Erica Pan, director of the state public health department, in a statement. Named after the San Joaquin Valley in California, Valley fever is an infection caused by breathing in the spores of a fungus called Coccidioides, which originates in the soil. "Valley fever is a serious illness that's here to stay in California." Southern Arizona and Southern California have the highest volume of cases, per the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — but the disease is also prevalent in New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas and parts of Washington State. Research has shown that periods of drought followed by precipitation can promote growth of the Valley fever fungus, sending spores into the air that people breathe in. Dr. George Thompson, a professor at UC Davis Health and co-director of the Center for Valley fever in Sacramento, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the ramp-up in cases. "We have seen a gradual increase in cases over the last five years, and a greater number of patients are coming into our clinic for diagnosis and treatment," he said at the time. While geographic location heightens the overall risk of contracting Valley fever, the CDC notes that certain groups are more vulnerable. These include people 60 years of age and older, those who have weakened immune systems as a result of certain diseases or medical conditions, pregnant women, people with diabetes, and people who are Black or Filipino. Symptoms of Valley fever can vary in type and severity, but they tend to mimic those seen in patients with COVID-19, experts say. "Some [people] may have a fever, chills or fatigue, or just feel generally unwell," Thompson of UC Davis Health said. However, he said he does see some severe cases where patients experience respiratory illness and difficulty breathing. Other symptoms may include extreme fatigue, bone or joint pain, night sweats, fever, chest pain, severe headaches, weight loss and skin rashes, according to the CDPH. Thompson estimated that for 1% to 3% of people, the infection will leave the lungs and travel to other parts of the body, which can lead to meningitis. People who experience severe Valley fever illness may need to be treated in a hospital, and may need ongoing medical care for months or years, health officials cautioned. Although it's rare, people outside the high-risk groups can experience severe effects from Valley fever. One of those is Rob Purdie from California, who contracted Valley fever in 2012 when he was 38. The infection led to meningitis, which caused severe headaches and double vision, he previously told Fox News Digital. "Some [people] may have a fever, chills or fatigue, or just feel generally unwell." The spores of the fungus had spread from his lungs to his brain and nervous system, a potentially fatal condition. More than a decade later, Purdie lives with the lingering effects of disseminated coccidioidal meningitis caused by Valley fever. Since the fungus that causes Valley fever lives in the soil, infection is often "hobby-related," Thompson said. He said he sees many cases among people who are in archeology or who spend a lot of time outdoors. For those in high-risk groups, the doctor recommends avoiding construction sites or areas where soil is often stirred up into the air. People can also wear an N95 respirator, a type of high-quality mask, to minimize exposure in dusty areas. Not everyone who acquires Valley fever requires medical treatment, although some may benefit from antifungal medications. Those who have severe symptoms, take immunocompromising medications, have cancer, have HIV, are pregnant or have had an organ transplant are likely to need antifungals. A blood test sent to a lab can confirm a current or prior infection of Valley fever, and a chest X-ray or CT scan can detect cases of pneumonia, according to the CDC. For more Health articles, visit Anyone who has experienced cough, fever, fatigue or other Valley fever symptoms for more than seven to 10 days should see a doctor, especially if they have been around dirt or dust in areas where the fungus is prevalent.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
California valley fever cases hit record highs again in 2025, state reports
LOS ANGELES - The latest California numbers suggest 2025 will be another record-smashing year for valley fever, the illness linked to drought and precipitation and spread by fungal spores. There were 6,761 cases reported through the end of July, according to state health officials - a significant increase over the 10-year average of 3,833 for that same time period and a slight jump from last year's total of 6,364. The 10-year low was in 2016, when there was less than a quarter of what there is now. Last year's total of nearly 12,500 cases is the most on record for California and far more than the 7,000 to 9,000 cases per year the state averaged between 2016 and 2024. "California had a record year for Valley fever in 2024 and, so far, case counts are high in 2025. Valley fever is a serious illness that's here to stay in California," said Erica Pan, director of the state public health department. Officials say the current count is likely to be revised upward as there are often delays in reporting. Valley fever is most prevalent in the San Joaquin Valley and southern part of the state where the fungus, Coccidioides, thrives in dry, arid soil. Case numbers are also climbing in the northern Central Valley, though, and along the state's Central Coast. Researchers speculate the rise is tied to patterns of drought and precipitation. Periods of severe drought followed by wet winter and dry summer seem to coincide with more people getting sick. They also suspect climate change has expanded the fungi's range into areas where it was previously rare. For instance, since 2023, Monterey County's case numbers have exploded. There were 47 cases in 2023 and 348 this year as of July 31. Cases also doubled since 2023 in Contra Costa, Fresno, San Luis Obispo and Merced counties. People contract Valley fever by inhaling the Coccidioides spores, released when wind, wildfire, tractors, bulldozers, digging or even dancing disturbs the soil. Last year, at least 19 people who attended Lightning in a Bottle, a five-day music and art festival held at Buena Vista lake in Kern County, got sick - including several with pneumonia-like symptoms, rashes, headaches and exhaustion. But most people infected won't get symptoms and will fight off the infection naturally. Those who do feel sick may be hard-pressed to know what they have, since the symptoms are similar to COVID or the flu, further complicating efforts to address the disease. "We want to remind Californians, travelers to California and their healthcare providers to watch for signs and symptoms of Valley fever to help detect it early," Pan said. In rare cases, the fungus can spread to other parts of the body and cause severe disease or death. Valley fever is not contagious. Pan urged people to seek help from a medical provider if they've had a cough, fever, trouble breathing and tiredness for more than 7 to 10 days - especially if they've been outdoors in dusty air in the Central Valley or Central Coast regions. Pets are also susceptible. Health officials said people can reduce their risk while traveling in the San Joaquin Valley and much of the southwestern United States by staying indoors and keeping doors and windows closed when it's windy; keeping car windows closed and using recirculated air instead of fresh; wetting soil before digging or disrupting; and wearing a properly fitted N95 mask if the outdoors can't be avoided. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
