The most common causes of fever, cough, and weariness are the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19.
For those residing in the southwestern United States, however, the symptoms may indicate Valley fever, and some scientists believe that this disease will soon spread to other places.
Named after the San Joaquin Valley in California, Valley fever is an infection induced by inhaling the spores of the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Southern Arizona and Southern California have the highest number of cases, but the disease is also prevalent in New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and sections of Washington State.
According to the CDC, the number of Valley fever cases has surpassed 20,000 in the United States year 2019.
The number of reported cases in this state increased between 2014 and 2018, as reported by the California Department of Public Health.
Fox News Digital spoke with Dr. George Thompson, a professor at UC Davis Health and co-director of the Center for Valley Fever in Sacramento, about the increase in cases.
“We have seen a gradual increase in cases over the past five years, and more patients are seeking diagnosis and treatment at our clinic,” he said.
Geographic location increases the chance of getting Valley fever, however the CDC cautions that particular populations are more susceptible.
These include adults over the age of 60, those with compromised immune systems due to certain diseases or medical conditions, pregnant women, people with diabetes, and Black and Filipino individuals.
The symptoms of Valley fever resemble those of COVID-19, according to doctors.
“Some [individuals] may have a fever, chills, or fatigue, or feel generally ill,” said Thompson of UC Davis Health.
The symptoms of Valley fever resemble those of COVID-19, according to doctors.
“Some [individuals] may have a fever, chills, or fatigue, or feel generally ill,” said Thompson of UC Davis Health.
Years of drugs and treatments: the tale of one man
Although it is uncommon, even outside of high-risk populations can have severe Valley fever symptoms.
On January 1, 2012, 38-year-old Rob Purdie of California awoke with a severe headache and nausea.
“It felt like the worst hangover of my life,” he told Fox News Digital, “but I hadn’t had a single drink the night before.”
His symptoms were attributed to a sinus infection, but despite two courses of antibiotics, Purdie did not feel any better.
The next diagnosis was cluster headaches, although a new drug didn’t help.
When Purdie began suffering double vision, he visited the emergency room in Kern Valley. A spinal tap there revealed a diagnosis of meningitis due to Valley fever.
The spores of the fungus had moved from his lungs to his brain and neurological system, a potentially lethal disease.
He said that this was only the beginning of years of medications and treatments, many of which had life-altering negative effects.
More than a decade later, Purdie lives with the lingering consequences of diffuse coccidioidal meningitis caused by Valley fever.
He told Fox News Digital that he receives an antifungal injection directly into his brain through a port in his head every few weeks.
Today, Purdie is a patient and program coordinator at the Valley Fever Institute at Kern Medical, the same clinic that saved his life. He is deeply committed to campaigning for other sufferers, increasing awareness of the disease, and lobbying for public health and research funding.
Is a nationwide distribution feasible?
A 2019 study by Morgan Gorris, which was published in GeoHealth, an environmental and health research magazine, suggested that climate change could lead to the spread of Valley fever into the northwest states of Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Other studies have connected the growing incidence of Valley fever to an increase in dust storms. Another recent GeoHealth study by Daniel Q. Tong, a scientist and professor at George Mason University in Virginia, reported that dust storms in the Southwest had climbed by 240% during the 1990s and 2000s, followed by an 800% jump in Valley fever cases between 2001 and 2011.
Purdie, for his part, feels that the prevalence of Valley fever could increase due to climate change and population development.
“Valley fever prefers undisturbed soil; therefore, as people continue to populate more arid, dry, and less developed regions, there will likely be an increase in its occurrence,” he explained.
Doctors and patients await the development of a vaccination
Dr. Thompson feels optimistic about progress toward the development of a vaccine against Valley fever, despite the absence of a vaccine at present. He mentioned three vaccines that are now in development, one of which has been successfully tested on dogs.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health, recently announced $4.5 million in funding for research on diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines for the disease.
In the interim, Thompson frequently administers antifungal drugs such as Fluconazole and Itraconazole to Valley fever patients.
Valley fever preventive measures
Since the fungus that causes Valley fever thrives in the soil, Thompson stated that the infection is frequently “hobby-related.” According to him, he sees numerous cases among archeologists and those who spend significant time outside.
The doctor advises high-risk populations to avoid construction sites and regions where earth is frequently stirred into the air.
People can also wear N95 respirators, a type of high-quality mask, in dusty places to reduce their exposure.
Thompson emphasized the significance of early detection and treatment.
According to the CDC, a blood test can confirm a current or previous infection with Valley fever, and a chest X-ray or CT scan can show pneumonia.
»Valley fever might spread from the southwest, doctors warn: “New cases are emerging.”«