Coccidioidomycosis, also called “Valley Fever”, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The disease is also sometimes called “San Joaquin Valley fever” or “desert rheumatism.” The term “Valley Fever” usually refers to Coccidioides infection in the lungs, but the infection can spread to other parts of the body in severe cases (this is called “disseminated coccidioidomycosis”). 

People get sick by breathing in a form of the Valley Fever fungus called spores.  Spores are too small to be seen.  They can get into the air with dust when it is windy or when dirt is disturbed.  In extremely rare cases, the fungal spores can enter the skin through a cut, wound, or splinter and cause a skin infection.

Valley Fever cannot be spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person.

Most people (60%) who are exposed to the fungus Coccidioides never have symptoms.  Other people may have flu-like symptoms that go usually away on their own after weeks to months.  Symptoms of valley fever include:

• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Cough lasting for more than four weeks
  
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Rash on upper body or legs

Symptoms of valley fever may appear between 1 and 3 weeks after a person breathes in the fungal spores and usually last for a few weeks to a few months. 

Most people will have mild illness that resolves without special treatment.  Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.  In an even smaller percent of people (about 1%), the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body, such as the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, or bones and joints.  This type of infection can be very serious and is sometimes fatal.  Talk with your medical provider if you are concerned about coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioidomycosis Prevention Information

The best way to reduce your risk of getting coccidioidomycosis is to avoid breathing in dirt or dust. Coccidioidomycosis can be difficult to prevent, but some common sense recommendations that may help are below.

When it is windy outside and the air is dusty, especially during dust storms:

• Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed.
• While driving, keep car windows shut and use “recirculating” air conditioning if available.
• If you must be outdoors in dusty air, consider wearing a well-fitted N95 respirator.

Other things you can do:

• Wet soil before digging or planting.
  
• Cover open dirt areas around your home with grass, plants, or other ground cover.
• After work or play, change out of clothes if covered with dirt.
• Take care not to shake out clothing and breathe in the dust before washing. Warn the person washing these clothes if you are not washing them yourself.

If you work in a job where dirt or soil is disturbed in a place where coccidioidomycosis is common, you and your employer may want to review the CDPH website for preventing work-related Valley Fever.

Coccidioidomycosis Surveillance Data

Please click to view the Communicable Disease dashboard with local coccidioidomycosis data available in English and Spanish.

California data is available at the California Department of Public Health’s coccidioidomycosis website.

United States data is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coccidioidomycosis website.

Information for Healthcare Providers:

Health Advisory: Seasonal Increase in Coccidioidomycosis Occurring Locally - January 4, 2024

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