[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-390014-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-390014-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","valley-fever-fact-sheet","Valley Fever Fact Sheet","","Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis or “cocci”) is an infectious lung disease caused by Coccidioides fungi that live in soil and dust in parts of California and the southwestern United States. Infection happens when dust containing fungal spores is inhaled, often after windy weather or digging. Symptoms may include cough, fever, chest pain, rash, fatigue, headaches, and weight loss, though many people have no symptoms. More severe or disseminated disease can spread beyond the lungs and become fatal. Diagnosis may involve blood tests or chest imaging, and mild cases may not require treatment.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/valley-fever-fact-sheet/390014/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/valley-fever-fact-sheet/390014.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"noah","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-25",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",15,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How do people become infected with Valley fever?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"People become infected by breathing in dust that contains spores of the Coccidioides fungus. Spores can enter the air when soil or dirt is stirred up by wind or during digging.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What symptoms can Valley fever cause?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Some people have no symptoms, but if illness occurs, symptoms usually begin 1–3 weeks after exposure. Common symptoms include cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue, rash, headaches, muscle or joint aches, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How is Valley fever diagnosed and treated?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Because symptoms can resemble other illnesses, healthcare providers may order tests such as a blood test or a chest x-ray. Mild infections may improve without treatment, and there are no over-the-counter medications specifically for Valley fever.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},390014,1790716140,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":102,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":55,"preview_page_count":4},1099529839121,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","Valley Fever Fact Sheet  \nWhat is Valley fever?  \nValley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis or “cocci”) is an infectious disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus that lives in the soil and dirt in certain areas of California and the southwestern United States. If you breathe in this fungus from dust in the air, it can infect your lungs and cause symptoms such as cough, fever, chest pain, or tiredness. Some people with Valley fever may develop severe disease, which may require hospitalization. In rare cases, the infection can spread beyond the lungs to other parts of the body (this is called disseminated Valley fever) .  \nIn California, the number of reported Valley fever cases has greatly increased in recent years. Since 2000, the number of cases has increased from less than 1,000 cases to more than 9,000 cases in 2019.  \nHow do people get Valley fever?  \nPeople can get Valley fever by breathing in dust that contains spores of the Coccidioides fungus. Like seeds from plants, a fungus grows and spreads from tiny spores that are too small to see. When soil or dirt are stirred up by strong winds or while digging, dust containing these fungal spores can get into the air. Anyone who lives, works, or visits in an area where the Valley fever fungus grows can breathe in these fungal spores without knowing it and become infected.  \nAnimals, including pets, can also become infected by breathing in fungal spores. Valley fever is not contagious and cannot spread from one person or animal to another.  \nWhen and where do people get Valley fever?  \nPeople can get Valley fever any time of the year, but more people are likely to be infected with the fungus that causes Valley fever in the late summer and fall than at other times of the year.  \nPeople are more likely to get Valley fever if they live, work, or visit in areas where the fungus grows in the soil or is in dust in the air. There is no test available to see if the Valley fever fungus is growing in the soil in certain areas, but we do know that Valley fever has been diagnosed in people living in counties throughout California. Most cases of Valley fever in California (over 65%) are reported in people who live in the Central Valley and Central Coast regions. The map below shows the rates of reported Valley fever cases by county in California, with darker shaded counties having higher rates than lighter shaded counties.  \nOutside of California, Valley fever occurs in Arizona, and some areas of Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas, and parts of Mexico and Central and South America.  \nWhat are the signs and symptoms of Valley fever?  \nMost people (about 6 in 10) infected with Valley fever have no symptoms, and their bodies will fight off the infection naturally. People who do get sick usually develop symptoms 1−3 weeks after breathing in the fungus.  \nValley fever usually infects the lungs, and some people can develop respiratory symptoms or pneumonia (a lung infection) . People who get sick may have some of the following symptoms:  \n• Fatigue (tiredness)  \n• Cough  \n• Chest pain  \n• Fever  \n• Rash on upper body or legs  \n• Headaches  \n• Muscle or joint aches  \n• Night sweats  \n• Unexplained weight loss  \nSome of these symptoms are similar to those of other common illnesses (including COVID-19 and the flu), but Valley fever symptoms can last a month or more.  \nMost people fully recover from Valley fever. In rare cases, Valley fever can spread to other parts of the body and infect the brain, joints, bone, skin, or other organs. This form of Valley fever can be very serious and fatal.  \nHow is Valley fever diagnosed and treated?  \nIf you have Valley fever symptoms that last more than a week, talk to a healthcare provider. Since Valley fever symptoms are similar to those of other common illnesses, your provider may order a blood test or other tests (such as a chest x-ray) to help diagnose Valley fever.  \nTreatment may not be needed for mild infections, which can sometimes get better on thei","cbCailrTvg6NEAsM","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailrTvg6NEAsM","pdf",396675,"English","# What is Valley fever?\n## How do people get Valley fever?\n## When and where do people get Valley fever?\n## What are the signs and symptoms of Valley fever?\n## How is Valley fever diagnosed and treated?\n## Can someone get it again?\n## Who is at greater risk?","[{\"question\":\"How do people become infected with Valley fever?\",\"answer\":\"People become infected by breathing in dust that contains spores of the Coccidioides fungus. Spores can enter the air when soil or dirt is stirred up by wind or during digging.\"},{\"question\":\"What symptoms can Valley fever cause?\",\"answer\":\"Some people have no symptoms, but if illness occurs, symptoms usually begin 1–3 weeks after exposure. Common symptoms include cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue, rash, headaches, muscle or joint aches, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.\"},{\"question\":\"How is Valley fever diagnosed and treated?\",\"answer\":\"Because symptoms can resemble other illnesses, healthcare providers may order tests such as a blood test or a chest x-ray. Mild infections may improve without treatment, and there are no over-the-counter medications specifically for Valley fever.\"}]","Valley Fever Fact Sheet | PDF",1790329203]