🦠 Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
Valley Fever is a fungal infection caused by two species of Coccidioides fungi (C. immitis and C. posadasii). It is geographically restricted, primarily found in the soil of the southwestern United States (especially Arizona and California) and parts of Central and South America.
Transmission and Symptoms
Transmission: A person contracts Valley Fever by breathing in airborne fungal spores when soil is disturbed (e.g., during construction, gardening, or dust storms). It is not contagious from person-to-person.
Initial Symptoms (Primary Coccidioidomycosis): Approximately 60% of people show no symptoms. For those who do, symptoms often resemble the flu, appearing 1 to 3 weeks after exposure:
