California health officials are warning about a surge in a potentially deadly fungal infection.
The state is reporting 6,761 cases of valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, through July this year. That means California is on pace to top last year’s record of 12,595 cases.
There were fewer than 1,000 cases logged in the year 2000. Valley fever now results in around 80 deaths and over 1,000 hospitalizations annually in California.
Shaun Yang, the director for molecular microbiology and pathogen genomics at the UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, blames the increase on the mild and wet winters that have become more common in California.
“This kind of very wet and dry pattern definitely is perfect for this fungus to grow,” Yang told SFGATE this week.
Here’s what you need to know about valley fever, which derives its name from its discovery in central California’s San Joaquin Valley.
What is valley fever?
Two Coccidioides fungi species cause valley fever — Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii.
Besides the San Joaquin Valley, they are found in the soil in desert regions of Arizona, parts of Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Washington, as well as northern Mexico and Central and South America.
Activities that disrupt the soil, such as wind, construction, farming, gardening or dust storms, can release the microscopic spores into the air.
Breathing in these spores can lead to valley fever.
If the initial infection doesn’t completely resolve, it may advance to pneumonia or disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is when the infection has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body, such as the skin, bones, joints and even the brain.
What are the symptoms?
Valley fever is often a mild illness that may even be symptomless for many people.
For others, flu-like symptoms tend to emerge one to three weeks after exposure to the fungus.
Symptoms may include:
- Fever
- A cough that may produce blood or mucus
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Joint aches and muscle soreness
- A rash mainly on the legs but sometimes on the chest, arms and back
Is valley fever contagious?
Valley fever is not contagious.
It cannot be spread from person to person or between people and animals.
How to test for valley fever
Seek medical help if you experience flu-like symptoms that last over a week and have traveled or live in an area where valley fever is common.
The Mayo Clinic urges seeing a doctor if you are over 60, have a weakened immune system, are pregnant or are of Filipino or African heritage.
Blood tests are the most common method for diagnosing valley fever.
Imaging can help visualize the infection in the lungs, while a lung tissue biopsy may be necessary in severe cases.
How to treat the fungal infection
Many valley fever cases resolve on their own without treatment. Anti-fungal drugs may be prescribed for three to six months in serious cases.
A severe infection or one that has spread to other body parts may require hospitalization, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rarely, surgery may be needed to remove infected lung tissue.
