Health
California Droughts Linked to Rise in Dust-Borne Fungal Infections
As California continues to grapple with severe droughts, a dust-borne fungal disease known as Valley fever is on the rise. This lung infection, caused by the Coccidioides fungus, is typically found in the soil of California and Arizona. However, climate change and prolonged drought conditions are contributing to an increase in cases.
Recently, dozens of people contracted Valley fever after attending a music festival in California, with at least eight individuals requiring hospitalization. Health officials caution that the risk of this fungal infection will persist into early fall.
Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, isn’t confined to California alone. The Coccidioides fungus is also present in the soil of the Pacific Northwest, the southwestern United States, and parts of Latin America. Each year, approximately 10,000 cases of Valley fever are reported in the U.S., with the majority occurring in Arizona and about 30% in California.
The rise in Valley fever cases in the southwestern U.S. is partly due to climate change and droughts. The Coccidioides fungus thrives in hot, dry conditions, and people can become infected by inhaling spores from the soil.
Many individuals with Valley fever might not realize they have the infection, as symptoms can be mild or mistaken for other respiratory illnesses.
“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,” said John Galgiani, MD, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
Symptoms of Valley fever can take one to three weeks to appear after inhaling the spores. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, headache, shortness of breath, night sweats, muscle aches, and rashes on the legs and upper body.
While the disease is not contagious and many people recover without treatment, those who develop symptoms can feel unwell for weeks or even months. Up to 10% of infections can lead to long-term lung issues, and in about 1% of cases, the infection can spread to the bones, skin, or central nervous system, causing meningitis.
“Knowing about this disease is probably the best defense,” Galgiani emphasized.
Healthcare providers typically use blood or skin tests to diagnose Valley fever, with results taking a few days. In some instances, additional tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or respiratory fluid tests may be necessary.
Although the Coccidioides fungus is primarily found in Arizona and California, it has been detected as far north as Washington State. People living in these regions are most susceptible to Valley fever, especially older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women.
“The best way to avoid it is don’t go to an area where you are likely to encounter it,” advised Timothy Brewer, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
For those residing in areas where the fungus is prevalent, reducing risk involves staying indoors on hot, dusty, and windy days or wearing an N95 mask or respirator.
It takes just one spore to cause illness, and there is currently no vaccine for Valley fever. However, antifungal treatments are available for those at risk of severe infections. Many people recover fully from Valley fever without medication and are unlikely to 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 reassured.
“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.”
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