The California Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of Valley Fever in people who attended a music festival at Buena Vista Lake in early summer, leading many to wonder about what Valley fever is, causes, symptoms, and perhaps most importantly – is there a cure?
What is Valley Fever?
The condition is an infectious disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of the U.S. and other parts of the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The fungus can infect the lungs and cause a range of respiratory issues. In rare cases, it can spread to other parts of the body and lead to severe disease.
Five people who attended the “Lightning in a Bottle” music festival were diagnosed with the condition and three were hospitalized, according to a press release from state health officials.
In 2022, there were 17,612 cases of Valley fever reported to the CDC, mostly from Arizona and California. California health officials note that the illness seems to be on the rise, with cases tripling between 2014-2018 and from 2018-2022.
But what are the major symptoms of Valley fever and what should you do if you suspect that you have it? Here’s the deal.
What are the Symptoms of Valley Fever?
Many people who are exposed to the Coccidioides fungus do not get Valley fever, according to the CDC. However, those who do may have these symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Fever and headache
- Shortness of breath
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Rash on upper body or legs
Symptoms usually appear between a week and three weeks after you breathe in the spores, and can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, per the CDC. “It is a common cause of pneumonia,” says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Up to 10% of people with Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems with their lungs, according to the CDC. Some may experience complications in other parts of their body, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, or bones and joints.
How do you get Valley Fever?
People get Valley fever by breathing in spores that live in the soil and dust, per the CDC. Activities that disturb the dirt and soil, like windstorms and construction, increase the risk, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York.
In rare cases, people can get Valley fever through an organ transplant from an infected person, by inhaling spores from an infected wound, or by contact with contaminated objects like rocks or shoes, according to the CDC.
Worth noting: Valley fever does not spread from person to person.
How is Valley fever diagnosed?
The symptoms of Valley fever “can be similar to many other respiratory-type viruses like the flu or COVID,” Dr. Russo says. But people with Valley fever symptoms tend to have chest pain and shortness of breath, which is more common with severe versions of the flu and COVID-19, he points out.
If you go to the doctor with Valley fever symptoms, it’s likely that they’ll test you for more common respiratory viruses first, Dr. Russo says. But, if you live in an area where Valley fever is more common, a doctor may also order a blood test to look for antibodies to the infection, he says. (If you have a characteristic skin rash, your doctor may order the test sooner, Dr. Russo points out.)
But Dr. Adalja says that the “initial infection is not usually detected.” Instead, it’s only when someone becomes more severely ill that they get a proper diagnosis.
Is there a Treatment or Cure for Valley Fever?
Not everyone is treated for Valley fever—most infections go away on their own without treatment, Dr. Russo says. However, some people are treated early on. “Treatment is reserved for those individuals who are immunocompromised,” Dr. Adalja says. If someone has disseminated disease—meaning, it’s spread throughout their body—they would also be treated, he says.
Treatment usually includes three to six months of an oral antifungal medication like fluconazole, Dr. Russo says.
How do you Prevent contracting Valley Fever?
It can be tricky, especially given that there is no vaccine for Valley fever. “If one lives in the endemic areas, it is very difficult to avoid infection as the fungal spores are literally blowing in the wind,” Dr. Adalja says. However, he notes that there tends to be a higher-than-usual risk after earthquakes since the spores are stirred up. Wildfires may also kick up spores, Dr. Russo says.
“If you’re able, you want to avoid the environments that are dry and dusty where you can inhale the spores, particularly if you fall into a high-risk group,” Dr. Russo says.
The CDC also recommends staying inside during dust storms and closing your windows, using air filtration measures inside (like the best air purifiers), cleaning skin injuries well with soap and water, and wearing a mask (like a KN95 or N95) in areas with a lot of dust, like construction sites.
Dr. Russo stresses that Valley fever isn’t a big concern for many Americans. But if you live in California, Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico, he says it’s a good idea to at least have the condition on your radar.
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