This is the case of valley fever Spikes in CaliforniaAccording to health officials.
As of the end of July, 6,761 cases had been confirmed. So if this rate continues, the total number of 2025 cases could rise, exceeding 12,595 seen in 2024.
Last year, totals averaged between 2016 and 2024, between 7,000 and 9,000 cases per year, per California Department of Public Health (CDPH) data.
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“Valley Fever is a serious illness here to stay in California,” state director Erika Pan said. Public Health Division in statement.
Valley fever, named after California’s San Joaquin Valley, is an infectious disease caused by breathing the spores of a fungus called coccidioids, which originate from the soil.
Southern Arizona and Southern California have the most cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the disease is also prevalent in parts of New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas and parts of Washington.
Research shows that Period of drought If precipitation continues, it promotes the growth of valley fever fungi and sends spores into the air that people breathe.
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Dr. George Thompson, a professor at UC Davis Health and co-director of the Valley Fever Center in Sacramento, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about ramp-up.
“The cases have gradually increased over the past five years, and many patients have come to the clinic for diagnosis and treatment,” he said at the time.
Geographical locations increase the overall risk of infection with valley fever, but the CDC notes that certain groups are more vulnerable.
These include people over the age of 60, people with a weakened immune system as a result of a particular disease or condition, pregnant women, and People with diabetesand black or Filipino.
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Although valley fever symptoms may differ in type and severity, they tend to mimic what is seen in Covid-19 patients, experts say.
“Some [people] Thompson of UC Davis Health said that you may have fever, chills, or fatigue, or you may feel sick in general.
However, he said he saw some serious cases the patients experience. Respiratory diseases Difficult to breathe.
Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, bone or joint pain, night sweats, chest pain, severe headaches, weight loss, and skin rash, according to CDPH.
Thompson estimated that in 1% to 3% of people, the infection would move away from the lungs and into other parts of the body. It leads to meningitis.
People experiencing severe valley fever illnesses must be treated in a hospital and may require ongoing medical care for months or years, the warning warned.
Although rare, people outside of high-risk groups may experience serious effects from valley fever.
One of them was California’s Rob Purdy, who suffered from volley fever in 2012 when he was 38 years old. The infection led to meningitis, causing severe headaches and double vision, he told Fox News Digital.
Fungal spores spread out from his lungs to him Brain and nervous systema potentially fatal condition.
More than a decade later, Purdy lives with the prolonged effects of disseminated coccidioidal meningitis caused by valley fever.
The fungus that cause valley fever live in the soil, so infections are often “hobby-related.” He said he sees many incidents among people who spend a lot of time in archaeology and outdoors.
For high-risk groups, doctors recommend avoiding construction sites and areas where soil is often stirred into the air.
People can wear it too N95 ventilator, A type of high quality mask to minimize exposure in dusty areas.
Not everyone who has acquired valley fever needs treatment, but some benefit from antifungal medications.
People with severe symptoms, immunodeficiency medications, cancer, with HIV, pregnant, pregnant, or with organ transplants may require antifungal properties.
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Blood tests sent to the lab can confirm valley fever currents or previous infections, and chest x-rays or CT scans can detect cases of pneumonia according to the CDC.
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Anyone who has experienced cough, fever, fatigue, or other valley fever symptoms for more than 7-10 days should Meet the doctorespecially if you’re around dirt and dust in areas where the fungus is valent.
