Key Takeaways
Dozens of people got sick from Valley fever after attending a California music festival this summer, and at least eight were hospitalized. Health officials in Californiawarnthat the risk of Valley fever—a fungal infection—will continue into early fall.
Around 10,000 Valley fever cases are reported in the U.S. each year. Most of the cases are reported in Arizona, while 30% are in California.
In recent years, Valley fever cases have risen in the southwestern U.S. partially due to climate change and droughts.Coccidioidescan survive in hot, dry conditions, and people can get infected after inhaling spores from the fungus that live in the soil.
“The numbers that have been discovered around this particular music festival almost certainly are an underestimate of all those that are out there because a lot of people most likely had an illness which you couldn’t tell from influenza or some other respiratory infection, and just weren’t tested and eventually got over it on their own,” saidJohn Galgiani, MD, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson.
What Are the Symptoms of Valley Fever?
It can take one to three weeks to develop Valley fever symptoms after breathing in theCoccidioidesspores.Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, headache, shortness of breath, night sweats, muscle aches, or rashes on the legs and upper body.
This disease is not contagious, and many people recover without needing treatment, but those who develop symptoms can feel sick for weeks or months.However, up to 10% of Valley fever infections lead to long-term lung problems, and in about 1% of cases, the infection spreads to bone, skin, or the central nervous system (meningitis).“Knowing about this disease is probably the best defense,” Galgiani said.
Healthcare providers primarily use blood or skin tests to determine if someone has Valley fever. These tests take a few days to show results. In some cases, additional tests like an X-ray, CT scan, or a respiratory fluid test are needed.
How Can You Avoid Valley Fever?
While theCoccidioidesfungus is mainly found in Arizona and California, it has spread north to Washington State.
People who live in these areas are most susceptible to Valley fever. Older adults, immunocompromised people, and pregnant people may be at a higher risk for developing a severe form of the infection.
“The best way to avoid it is don’t go to an area where” you are likely to encounter it,Timothy Brewer, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Verywell.
It only takes breathing in one spore to get sick, and there’s currently no Valley fever vaccine.Antifungal treatments are available for people at risk for severe infections.Many people fully recover from Valley fever without medications and likely won’t get the infection again.
“Don’t panic because of the reports about the outbreak. This has been around forever and will continue to be around,” Brewer said. “Just be sensible if you do develop fever, cough, and you’re concerned about whether or not you have Valley fever, go see your healthcare provider, and there are certainly very good tests to try to sort this all out.”
What This Means For YouIf you live in or travel to areas where Valley fever is common, be mindful of the risks. On hot, dusty, or windy days, stay indoors or wear an N95 mask to protect yourself from inhaling fungal spores. If you experience lingering respiratory symptoms after visiting these areas, consult a healthcare provider for testing.
What This Means For You
If you live in or travel to areas where Valley fever is common, be mindful of the risks. On hot, dusty, or windy days, stay indoors or wear an N95 mask to protect yourself from inhaling fungal spores. If you experience lingering respiratory symptoms after visiting these areas, consult a healthcare provider for testing.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about Valley fever.Tong DQ, Wang JXL, Gill TE, Lei H, Wang B.Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States.Geophys Res Lett. 2017;44(9):4304-4312. doi:10.1002/2017GL073524California Department of Public Health.Valley fever.Washington State Department of Health.Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Areas with Valley fever.Valley Fever Center for Excellence.Valley fever in people FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of Valley fever.California Department of Public Health.Groups at risk for Valley fever.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about Valley fever.Tong DQ, Wang JXL, Gill TE, Lei H, Wang B.Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States.Geophys Res Lett. 2017;44(9):4304-4312. doi:10.1002/2017GL073524California Department of Public Health.Valley fever.Washington State Department of Health.Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Areas with Valley fever.Valley Fever Center for Excellence.Valley fever in people FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of Valley fever.California Department of Public Health.Groups at risk for Valley fever.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about Valley fever.Tong DQ, Wang JXL, Gill TE, Lei H, Wang B.Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States.Geophys Res Lett. 2017;44(9):4304-4312. doi:10.1002/2017GL073524California Department of Public Health.Valley fever.Washington State Department of Health.Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for Valley fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Areas with Valley fever.Valley Fever Center for Excellence.Valley fever in people FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of Valley fever.California Department of Public Health.Groups at risk for Valley fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about Valley fever.
Tong DQ, Wang JXL, Gill TE, Lei H, Wang B.Intensified dust storm activity and Valley fever infection in the southwestern United States.Geophys Res Lett. 2017;44(9):4304-4312. doi:10.1002/2017GL073524
California Department of Public Health.Valley fever.
Washington State Department of Health.Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of Valley fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for Valley fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Areas with Valley fever.
Valley Fever Center for Excellence.Valley fever in people FAQs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of Valley fever.
California Department of Public Health.Groups at risk for Valley fever.
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