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Valley Fever: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment - WebMD
Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by a fungus called coccidioides. It's also known as San Joaquin Valley fever or desert rheumatism.
The fungus that causes valley fever grows in the ground and can be found in the Southwestern part of the U.S. When something stirs up the soil, spores from the fungus fly into the air where people breathe them in.
Valley fever is the first stage of this fungal infection. Most people don't get sick, but you may experience flu-like symptoms including fever and chills. And when valley fever symptoms do appear, they usually go away on their own.
Medicine can typically clear up symptoms, but in rare cases the fungus spreads to other parts of the body and your symptoms can become more severe.
Pets can come get valley fever, too.
Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by a fungus. When something stirs up the soil, spores from the fungus fly into the air where people breathe them in. Valley fever is the first stage of this fungal infection. When symptoms appear, they usually go away on their own; however valley fever can bring on flu-like symptoms including fever and chills. (Photo Credit: CDC)
The types of fungus that cause valley fever grow when it rains in dry, desert soil. When the wind picks up their spores, it can blow them for hundreds of miles. They exist in these areas of the U.S.:
The fungus' area also reaches down into Mexico. And it has turned up in Central and South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Climate and weather changes could cause valley fever fungus in new areas.
Valley fever outbreaks rarely happen. But when they do, they may be due to weather events that disturb the soil, like earthquakes and dust storms. About 47 outbreaks were recorded from 1940 to 2015.
Valley fever in California
Valley fever cases went up in California from 2000 to 2018. Drought in California affects the number of new valley fever cases. This is because the valley fever fungus lives and grows in soil. Even when it's dry from drought and other organisms are killed, the fungus can live. During the actual drought, there aren't as many new valley fever cases, probably because the fungus is inactive in the soil. But when it rains again and the fungus can grow, more people get sick. Drought in California causes there to be more valley fever cases in the years following.
The Southern San Joaquin (Central) Valley region in California had the highest rates of valley fever. Counties in this region include:
The California Central Coast and Northern San Joaquin (Central) Valley regions had an increasing number of valley fever cases. The counties in this region include:
When do most people get it?
You can get valley fever at any time of the year. But more people get diagnosed in the fall, between late September to November, compared to other months. Because it takes weeks for people to develop symptoms, this means that people who get the infection usually catch it in the summer, between June to early September.
If you go to the affected regions, you could be exposed. Someone who is age 60 or older is more likely to get it. The risk is also greater for:
If you work, live, or travel in areas where there are high rates of valley fever, you're also at a higher risk. This is especially true if you:
If you work or live in an area where valley fever is common, you should speak with your employer or landlord about how to prevent infection.
Six out of every 10 people who get infected with valley fever will have no symptoms. Their bodies will fight off the infection. But for others, signs of valley fever usually show up 1 to 3 weeks after the fungus gets into your lungs. You might have:
Valley fever rash
This rash can show up in different ways. Usually it's:
If symptoms do appear, recovering from them may take months. The time depends on your general health and how many of the fungus spores have gotten into your lungs.
If symptoms don't improve on their own or you don't get treatment, valley fever may develop into a long-term type of pneumonia. This mainly happens in people whose immune systems are weak. The symptoms include fever, unexplained weight loss, chest pains, and coughing up mucus with blood in it.
Is valley fever contagious?
Valley fever isn't contagious, so you can't catch it from someone else. You get the infection when you breathe in fungal spores in the air. Once you breathe them in, they change form in your body. You can't spread them to other people or animals once this happens.
Is valley fever serious?
Valley fever can be serious or fatal. In California, there have been over 1,000 hospitalizations each year with the infection. About 1 in 10 of these people have died in the hospital.
How long does valley fever last?
The symptoms of this this infection will usually go away on their own after a few weeks or months. A small group of people will have ongoing symptoms in their lungs. If this continues, it's called chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and not valley fever anymore. With this, you may have no symptoms or have chest pains, shortness of breath, weight loss, cough up blood, of have a chronic cough.
Valley fever is unlikely to lead to complications. Only 1% of people with valley fever symptoms have complications, which involve lung or breathing problems.
Valley fever complications include:
Disseminated valley fever
In the most serious cases, the infection moves beyond the lungs into other parts of the body. Disseminated valley fever is the most intense version, but it's uncommon. It happens when the infection moves to your skin, bones, brain, liver, heart, and the membranes that guard your spinal cord and brain.
The effects include skin sores that are worse than the rash mentioned above; painful, swollen joints; and meningitis, which is an infection around the brain and spinal cord.
Other complications include:
Valley fever lung nodules
Lung nodules are small tissues on the lungs that look like white spots in an X-ray. Only a few people with valley fever have them. Even if you don't have valley fever symptoms or your symptoms have cleared, your doctor might find lung nodules on your chest X-ray. Though they can look like cancer, these nodules are generally harmless and often go away on their own.
However, they could break, too. When this happens, you may have chest pain and breathing problems. Your doctor will put a tube in the area around the lungs to let out air. They might also recommend surgery to treat it.
Nodules in the lungs can also be a sign of pneumonia from valley fever and disseminated valley fever.
Make the call if you have symptoms of valley fever and they last more than a week. Checking with a professional is especially important if you're in a high-risk group.
Most people with valley fever have no obvious symptoms, and if symptoms appear, they're usually mild. Your doctor will examine your symptoms, ask about your travel history, and perform a physical exam. They may also order a few tests, such as blood tests, X-rays, a biopsy, or a skin test, to help diagnose the condition.
Valley fever tests
The main test for valley fever is for your doctor to take a blood sample. The results should come back in a few days.
You may also be asked to cough up a mucus sample so it can be tested.
Your doctor might perform an X-ray or CT scan of your lungs to look for signs of valley fever or pneumonia.
They might also take a sample of tissue from your body. If the tissue or blood needs to go to a lab for more tests, the results might take a few weeks to get back to your doctor.
Another way your doctor can check if you have or had valley fever is through a skin test. They will give you a small injection on your forearm. If you have had valley fever, a bump should appear where you were injected. Your doctor will look at the bump again after two days to see how big it is.
However, you might not see a bump even if you've had the infection. This might happen if you have or had severe valley fever, have other health issues, or are taking medications interfering with your result.
Valley fever usually doesn't need medical treatment. For people who are otherwise healthy, bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids are enough. Your doctor will keep a close watch on how you're doing.
Valley fever medication
If the symptoms hang on, get worse, or the infection spreads, your doctor might prescribe a drug that attacks illnesses caused by fungus. You may have to take the drug for three to six months. There are several options depending on how severe the symptoms are.
Some medicines your doctor may recommend include
These medicines may cause side effects like
But they will likely go away when you stop taking your medicines. Never stop taking your medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you have any side effects that bother you, talk to your doctor about them.
In the most extreme cases, such as in people who develop meningitis, lifelong medication may be necessary.
There's no valley fever vaccine yet, but a potential vaccine is in the works.
if you live in or visit a region where valley fever is a possibility, it helps to take commonsense precautions, such as:
These steps are particularly important for people who are at high risk.
Valley fever immunity
One bit of good news: In many cases, people who have valley fever become immune for the rest of their lives.
But in rare cases, especially if you have a weakened immune system, you might get valley fever again.
Since you can't spread it to other people, you don't have to stay home for that reason. But it's important to get as much rest as possible until your symptoms are gone.
Face masks
You can wear a properly fitted, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved mask to protect against this infection. These include N95, N99, N100, P100, or HEPA.
Cloth masks, KN95s, or other non-certified masks won't help as much.
You can't spread valley fever to, or get it from, your pet. But animals can get it on their own.
Valley fever symptoms in dogs
Dogs are most vulnerable. Just like with people, many of the animals that inhale the fungus don't get sick. When they do, they may cough, lack energy, or lose weight. If you think your pet may have valley fever, check with your vet. Other symptoms include:
Cats can also get valley fever. They might have symptoms like fever, lowered appetite, and weight loss. Breathing issues, limping, neurologic signs, and eye issues are less common in cats.
Livestock can also get the infection. But they don't show signs as often. If they do, it's usually just a cough that lasts weeks to months.
Camels, llamas, and alpacas can get valley fever. They usually will develop intense infection that spreads to their entire body and is fatal. Other symptoms could include weight loss, coughing, low energy, lowered appetite, limping, skin wounds, and hair loss.
Valley fever is an infection caused by a fungus called coccidioides. You'll likely have this infection if you visit places like California or Arizona, where there are high rates of valley fever. Most people with valley fever don't show any symptoms, but for some, the symptoms can be mild and may go away on their own. Resting a lot and drinking fluids can help. In rare and severe cases, you might need antifungal medicines. If you have symptoms for more than a week, see a doctor.
What is the life expectancy of someone with valley fever?
Most people with valley fever recover completely. It's very rare for anyone to die from this infection.
How do you heal from valley fever?
You can heal from valley fever by resting, eating well, and hydrating. Taking your medicines as prescribed will also help.
Can coccidioidomycosis be cured?
Coccidioidomycosis can be treated with antifungal medicines like fluconazole (Diflucan).
Who is the most common victim of valley fever?
The people most likely to get valley fever include people who live in or have visited regions where it is common, like California, people 60 and over, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, people with diabetes, and people of African descent and Hispanic, Native American, and Filipino people.
What can be mistaken for valley fever?
Depending on your symptoms, valley fever can be mistaken for the flu, tuberculosis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Valley Fever In California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself And Why Cases Are Way Up - KQED
Valley Fever in California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself and Why Cases Are Way UpKQEDKQEDSave ArticleKQEDKQED News
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upper waypointAn illustration of thick-walled arthroconidia and arthrospores from the fungus coccidioides immitis. This fungus is found in desert and semi-arid regions and is endemic to southwestern USA, Mexico and South America. C. Immitis is the causative agent of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever. (Kateryna Kon/SciencePhoto Library)
Aug 27, 2024
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Updated 4 p.M., Sept. 4
Cases of valley fever — a lung infection that can cause severe sickness in some people — are rising across California. And state health officials said they're seeing an increasing number of cases of the disease reported outside the Central Valley and Central Coast areas where valley fever is traditionally most common — including cases in Bay Area residents.
In the first half of this year alone, more than 5,300 people in California have caught valley fever — including at least 19 people who contracted the disease after attending the Lightning in a Bottle music festival outside Bakersfield, according to the California Department of Public Health's latest figures from Aug. 21. These cases "occurred among people who traveled through Kern County, California, to attend the outdoor music festival," officials said.
Eight of the festivalgoers have been hospitalized with the condition, which is not contagious. More people among the 20,000-plus attendees at the festival may have been infected with valley fever but have mistaken their symptoms for another respiratory infection. Originally, only five festival attendees were reported in late July to have the condition, but this number has now quadrupled as more people have come forward.
Jump straight to:
While valley fever has been present in the Western U.S. For years, the frequency of cases has gone up in recent years. According to new research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the number of valley fever cases tripled between 2014 and 2018 — and then tripled again between 2018 and 2022. Overall, the infection rate has increased by 800% over the past 20 years.
"We are observing quite a bit of expansion of valley fever in California," CDPH epidemiologist Gail Cooksey told health care professionals at a briefing last week, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. "Something you may not have previously thought was in your [backyard] may start to emerge in those areas."
Climate and health experts believe that changing climate conditions are contributing to the increase, with whiplashed cycles of wet weather followed by drought creating an ideal environment for the fungus that causes valley fever to thrive. Read more about the link between valley fever and climate change.
This all means that Bay Area folks who were previously unfamiliar with valley fever — or have assumed the disease is unlikely to affect them personally — might benefit from knowing more about this condition and its symptoms. Keep reading for how to spot valley fever, who is most at risk of getting seriously sick and how to seek testing and treatment.
What is valley fever, and how do people catch it?Valley fever is a lung infection that's caused by a fungus called coccidioides (or "cocci"), which lives in soil in certain areas of California and the Southwestern U.S.
When soil that's contaminated with cocci is kicked up or otherwise disturbed, infectious spores — that is, tiny particles — are released into the air and can be inhaled by people and animals. From there, cocci can enter the lungs and cause the disease known as valley fever (or coccidioidomycosis), resulting in symptoms that resemble pneumonia.
"You can get valley fever from just one breath of dust from outdoor air that contains spores of the valley fever fungus," CDPH said. That said, the disease is "something that we think is much more common to get if you're exposed to large amounts of dust," said Alexandra Heaney, an assistant professor of public health at UC San Diego.
Anyone can get valley fever, but CDPH said that people who live, work, or travel in areas with high rates of valley fever are particularly at risk — especially people who are near areas where dirt and soil are stirred up, like construction, landscaping or archeological sites.
Pets can also be infected with valley fever and present different symptoms than humans.
Where am I most at risk from valley fever?"Valley fever" itself is named for the San Joaquin Valley, where the majority of cases have historically been concentrated within California. But the disease is no longer limited to the Central Valley and Central Coast areas, where many people associate it with most. State health officials said that "more and more cases" have been recently reported in Central and Southern California.
For people in the Bay Area, travel to these areas poses a risk of contracting valley fever. In the first half of 2024, 300 cases of the disease were reported in residents of the nine-county Bay Area. In that same timeframe, 35% of all cases of valley fever in California were reported in Kern County, where the Lightning in the Bottle festival took place outside Bakersfield in May.
State health officials say California is on track to have more valley fever cases this year than ever before – including a notable uptick in the Bay Area – likely resulting in part from climate change. Source: California Department of Public Health (Chart by Kara Newhouse/KQED) See the California Department of Public Health's map of areas where valley fever has been detected.
To complicate matters when it comes to the geography of the disease, the fungus that causes valley fever can travel some distance in the air. "So even if you don't live in the region, you still might be exposed," Katrina Hoyer, an immunologist at UC Merced, told CalMatters.
Wildfire smoke, which can already travel huge distances and cause health complications, could also contribute to the spread of the cocci fungus. According to a 2020 paper published in the journal Science, the spores that cause valley fever can essentially hitch a ride with this smoke and travel hundreds — even thousands — of miles into areas where the disease isn't usually common.
Is there a particular time of year I'm most at risk from valley fever?People can get valley fever any time of the year, according to CDPH — but a person is "more likely" to be infected in the late summer and fall than at other times of the year.
"We're going into the season for valley fever right now," state epidemiologist Cooksey warned health professionals in mid-August — noting that it was "definitely time to watch out for increases."
What are the symptoms of valley fever?Not everyone who is exposed to the cocci fungus will get valley fever. But those who do can get the following symptoms:
The symptoms of valley fever can last for anywhere from a week to a few months, but health officials advise that if symptoms last for more than a week, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Is valley fever contagious if I get it?No: Valley fever is a respiratory disease, but it isn't contagious in the way that COVID-19 or the flu is. Other people with valley fever can't infect you, and if you get it, you can't infect others either.
How will I know if my symptoms are really valley fever? Is there a test?Valley fever has a fairly long incubation period, which can cause confusion when pinpointing the source of a sickness. Symptoms don't show up straight away — rather, they take between one and three weeks to start. Several of the symptoms of valley fever can be easily confused with COVID-19, including fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches.
All this means that "the only way to find out if you have Valley fever is to see a doctor," CDPH said. A blood test or a skin test can be used to diagnose valley fever and is available from health care providers.
CDPH recommends that when you see a doctor, "think about any recent outdoor exposures to dirt and dust you may have had, especially if you work outdoors or have recently traveled to or through areas where valley fever is common." You'll also be asked if you've had any symptoms for more than a week.
How dangerous is valley fever, and what treatment is available?The CDC said that many people who get sick with valley fever have "mild symptoms," and they'll "often get better without medication within a few months."
However, some people who are at higher risk for severe disease from valley fever (see below) should seek treatment to make sure their infection doesn't get worse. Currently, this treatment is a three- to six-month course of oral antifungal medication like fluconazole.
"Rarely," valley fever can result in severe lung infections or infections throughout the body, according to the CDC. The agency said that around 5%–10% of people who get valley fever will develop "serious or long-term problems in their lungs," and in around 1% of cases, the valley fever infection can spread from the lungs to elsewhere in the body, including the brain and nervous system, skin or bones.
In "extremely rare cases," the agency said, the spores from the cocci fungus can enter your skin through a cut or even a splinter and cause an infection that way.
Who's most at risk of developing severe disease from valley fever?CDPH said these groups include:
There currently is no vaccine against valley fever, according to the CDC, but "scientists are continuing to work on a vaccine to prevent valley fever with minimal side effects."
Moreover, the CDC acknowledges that it's "very difficult" to avoid breathing in this type of fungus "in areas where it lives in the environment."
When you're driving through an area where valley fever is common:
CDPH advised that you keep all car windows closed and use the "recirculating air" button in your car if you have one (it's the button with the symbol of a car with a looping arrow inside it.)
When your recirculating air is on, your car will stop taking in any air from the outside — and instead, your AC will recirculate the air that's already inside your car. This will help prevent dust carrying this fungus from entering your car while still keeping the inside of your car cool.
If you're visiting where valley fever is common and there's a lot of dust around:
Locations like construction and excavation sites can pose more risk, as the cocci fungal spores can travel into the air when dust is kicked up. The CDC said that if you can't avoid these areas outright, you should wear a fitted N95 mask and stay inside during dust storms.
The agency also recommended using air filtration or air conditioning indoors and avoiding activities like gardening that involve "contact with soil." UC San Diego's Heaney noted that when activities like gardening or construction are unavoidable, "wetting down soil before doing any of that disruption can help prevent the emission of dust" and help reduce your valley fever risks.
KQED's Katie DeBenedetti and Riley Cooke contributed to this story
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This fungus is found in desert and semi-arid regions and is endemic to southwestern USA, Mexico and South America. C. Immitis is the causative agent of coccidioidomycosis, also known as valley fever.", "credit": "Kateryna Kon/SciencePhoto Library", "altTag": "An illustration of microscopic bacteria.", "description": null, "imgSizes": { "medium": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-800x533.Jpg", "width": 800, "height": 533, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "large": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-1020x680.Jpg", "width": 1020, "height": 680, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "thumbnail": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-160x107.Jpg", "width": 160, "height": 107, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "1536x1536": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-1536x1024.Jpg", "width": 1536, "height": 1024, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "2048x2048": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-2048x1365.Jpg", "width": 2048, "height": 1365, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "post-thumbnail": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-672x372.Jpg", "width": 672, "height": 372, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "twentyfourteen-full-width": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-1038x576.Jpg", "width": 1038, "height": 576, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "full-width": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781-1920x1280.Jpg", "width": 1920, "height": 1280, "mimeType": "image/jpeg" }, "kqedFullSize": { "file": "https://cdn.Kqed.Org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/08/GettyImages-1386022781.Jpg", "width": 2121, "height": 1414 } }, "fetchFailed": false, "isLoading": false } }, "audioPlayerReducer": { "postId": "stream_live", "isPaused": true, "isPlaying": false, "pfsActive": false, "pledgeModalIsOpen": true, "playerDrawerIsOpen": false }, "authorsReducer": { "carlysevern": { "type": "authors", "id": "3243", "meta": { "index": "authors_1716337520", "id": "3243", "found": true }, "name": "Carly Severn", "firstName": "Carly", "lastName": "Severn", "slug": "carlysevern", "email": "csevern@kqed.Org", "display_author_email": false, "staff_mastheads": [ "news" ], "title": "Senior Editor, Audience News ", "bio": "Carly is KQED's Senior Editor of Audience News on the Digital News team, and has reported for the California Report Magazine, Bay Curious and KQED Arts. She's formerly the host of \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.Kqed.Org/pop/category/the-cooler/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Cooler\u003c/a> podcast.", "avatar": "https://secure.Gravatar.Com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?S=600&d=blank&r=g", "twitter": "teacupinthebay", "facebook": null, "instagram": null, "linkedin": null, "sites": [ { "site": "", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "arts", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "news", "roles": [ "administrator" ] }, { "site": "pop", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "futureofyou", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "about", "roles": [ "administrator" ] }, { "site": "mindshift", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "bayareabites", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "stateofhealth", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "science", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "food", "roles": [ "contributor" ] }, { "site": "forum", "roles": [ "editor" ] }, { "site": "perspectives", "roles": [ "administrator" ] } ], "headData": { "title": "Carly SevernKQED", "description": "Senior Editor, Audience News ", "ogImgSrc": "https://secure.Gravatar.Com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?S=600&d=blank&r=g", "twImgSrc": "https://secure.Gravatar.Com/avatar/2d8d6765f186e64c798cf7f0c8088a41?S=600&d=blank&r=g" }, "isLoading": false, "link": "/author/carlysevern" } }, "breakingNewsReducer": {}, "campaignFinanceReducer": {}, "pagesReducer": {}, "postsReducer": { "stream_live": { "type": "live", "id": "stream_live", "audioUrl": "https://streams.Kqed.Org/kqedradio", "title": "Live Stream", "excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.", "link": "/radio", "featImg": "", "label": { "name": "KQED Live", "link": "/" } }, "stream_kqedNewscast": { "type": "posts", "id": "stream_kqedNewscast", "audioUrl": "https://www.Kqed.Org/.Stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.Mp3?_=1", "title": "KQED Newscast", "featImg": "", "label": { "name": "88.5 FM", "link": "/" } }, "news_12001920": { "type": "posts", "id": "news_12001920", "meta": { "index": "posts_1716263798", "site": "news", "id": "12001920", "found": true }, "guestAuthors": [], "slug": "valley-fever-in-california-symptoms-protecting-yourself-and-why-cases-are-way-up", "title": "Valley Fever in California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself and Why Cases Are Way Up", "publishDate": 1724756446, "format": "image", "headTitle": "Valley Fever in California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself and Why Cases Are Way UpKQED", "labelTerm": { "site": "news" }, "content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 4 p.M., Sept. 4\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cases of\u003ca href=\"https://www.Kqed.Org/news/11998703/valley-fever-cases-are-on-the-rise-in-california-what-to-know-about-the-fungal-disease\"> valley fever\u003c/a> — a lung infection that can cause severe sickness in some people — are rising across California. And state health officials said they're seeing \u003ca href=\"https://www.Kqed.Org/news/12001154/valley-fever-rises-after-california-music-festival-experts-warn-of-climate-change-link\">an increasing number of cases of the disease reported \u003c/a>outside the Central Valley and Central Coast areas where valley fever is traditionally most common — including cases in Bay Area residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the first half of this year alone, more than 5,300 people in California have caught valley fever — including \u003ca href=\"https://www.Kqed.Org/news/12002977/valley-fever-cases-linked-to-california-music-festival-nearly-quadruple-and-more-are-likely\">at least 19 people who contracted the disease after attending the Lightning in a Bottle music festival \u003c/a>outside Bakersfield, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.Cdph.Ca.Gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-22.Aspx\">the California Department of Public Health's latest figures from Aug. 21\u003c/a>. These cases "occurred among people who traveled through Kern County, California, to attend the outdoor music festival," officials said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eight of the festivalgoers have been hospitalized with the condition, which is not contagious. More people among the 20,000-plus attendees at the festival may have been infected with valley fever but have mistaken their symptoms for another respiratory infection. Originally, \u003ca href=\"https://www.Cdph.Ca.Gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-018.Aspx\">only five festival attendees were reported in late July\u003c/a> to have the condition, but this number has now quadrupled as more people have come forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#valley-fever-symptoms\">What are the symptoms of valley fever?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#is-valley-fever-dangerous\">How dangerous is valley fever?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#protection-valley-fever\">What can I do to protect myself against valley fever in areas where it's common?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>While valley fever has been present in the Western U.S. For years, \u003ca href=\"https://www.Kqed.Org/news/12001154/valley-fever-rises-after-california-music-festival-experts-warn-of-climate-change-link\">the frequency of cases has gone up in recent years.\u003c/a> According to new research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the number of valley fever cases tripled between 2014 and 2018 — and then tripled again between 2018 and 2022. Overall, the infection rate has increased by 800% over the past 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.Sfchronicle.Com/health/article/valley-fever-cases-rise-record-high-california-19667254.Php\">"We are observing quite a bit of expansion of valley fever in California,"\u003c/a> CDPH epidemiologist Gail Cooksey told health care professionals at a briefing last week, as reported by the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>. "Something you may not have previously thought was in your [backyard] may start to emerge in those areas."\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Climate and health experts believe that changing climate conditions are contributing to the increase, with whiplashed cycles of wet weather followed by drought creating an ideal environment for the fungus that causes valley fever to thrive. \u003ca href=\"https://www.Kqed.Org/news/12001154/valley-fever-rises-after-california-music-festival-experts-warn-of-climate-change-link\">Read more about the link between valley fever and climate change.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This all means that Bay Area folks who were previously unfamiliar with valley fever — or have assumed the disease is unlikely to affect them personally — might benefit from knowing more about this condition and its symptoms. Keep reading for how to spot valley fever, who is most at risk of getting seriously sick and how to seek testing and treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is valley fever, and how do people catch it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Valley fever is a lung infection that's caused by a fungus called coccidioides (or "cocci"), which lives in soil in certain areas of California and the Southwestern U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When soil that's contaminated with cocci is kicked up or otherwise disturbed, infectious spores — that is, tiny particles — are released into the air and can be inhaled by people and animals. From there, cocci can enter the lungs and cause the disease known as valley fever (or coccidioidomycosis), resulting in symptoms that resemble pneumonia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#valley-fever-symptoms\">What are the symptoms of valley fever?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.Cdph.Ca.Gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ValleyFeverBasics.Aspx#Where\">"You can get valley fever from just one breath\u003c/a> of dust from outdoor air that contains spores of the valley fever fungus," CDPH said. That said, the disease is "something that we think is much more common to get if you're exposed to large amounts of dust," said Alexandra Heaney, an assistant professor of public health at UC San Diego.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anyone can get valley fever, but CDPH said that \u003ca href=\"http
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