The California Department of Public Health announced Wednesday the state reported a record number of Valley fever cases last year.
Officials said the 9,004 cases in 2019 were the highest since the state started tracking cases in 1995. It’s not clear why the case count was so high, however, it’s believed it might have something to do with an above average rainfall during the 2018-2019 winter.
The highest occurrences of Valley fever were in the Central Valley and Central Coast areas, including Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Tulare, Madera and Monterey counties.
"With the continued increase in Valley fever cases, people living and working in the Central Valley and Central Coast regions of California should take steps to avoid breathing in dusty air outside," said Dr. Erica Pan, who serves as CDPH Acting State Public Health Officer. “Although the symptoms of Valley fever can be similar to those of COVID-19, it’s important that individuals with lingering cough and fatigue also talk to a healthcare provider about Valley fever, especially if they have been outdoors in dusty air."
The fever is caused by breathing in spores of fungus in dirt and soil in some areas of the state, infecting the lungs and causing cough, fever, chest pain and fatigue.