Yesterday, the Kern County Department of Public Health announced April as Valley Fever Month as part of their Disease Fighters initiative, a year-long health education and awareness campaign to combat infectious diseases.
Valley Fever is contracted by inhaling the spores of a fungus that grows in the soil or dirt and can cause symptoms such as: cough, fatigue, fever, chest pain, night sweats, muscle or joint pain, unexplained weight loss, difficulty breathing, headaches, and/or rash.
“The majority of people infected by Valley Fever will never even know they are sick. About 60% of those infected will develop no symptoms,” stated Paul Rzucidlo, the Assistant Division Director of Health Services at Public Health.
For those that do become symptomatic, those symptoms can take one to three weeks to appear after breathing in the fungus spores. While some individuals may experience symptoms that resolve quickly, others can take much longer to go away.
According to Rzucidlo, approximately five to 10% of peopled infected with Valley Fever will develop serious or long-term problems with their lungs. Additionally, the infection can spread beyond the lungs to the central nervous system, causing meningitis, the skin, the bones, and/or joints.
While severe Valley Fever infections often require hospitalization and possibly long-term treatment, there is currently no vaccine or cure for this disease and no way to eliminate it from the environment.
Rzucidlo also stated that Kern County is currently faced record numbers of Valley Fever cases. In 2024, 3,990 cases were reported, a 14% increase over the previous record. This number is also a 27% increase since 2023, where there were 3,152 reported cases.
Kern County has also seen an increase in Valley Fever related deaths as 49 were reported in 2024. This is a 17% increase of since the previous record of 42 in 2018. In 2023, there were 23 reported deaths.
“Sadly, we announced 2024 as the year that Valley Fever has had the most devastating impact on the residents of Kern County,” commented Brynn Carrigan, the Director of Kern County Public Health. “While the data is startling and telling in itself, it is important for us to recognize that this announcement isn’t just about 3,990 cases of Valley Fever in 2024 – it’s about the 3,990 individuals directly impacted by this disease.”
Carrigan said each of these individuals has a story and experience that has changed their lives.
“They’re more than a number or a statistic. They’re our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones. They are us,” Carrigain stated.
Carrigan went on to say that she herself has become a face of the Valley Fever statistic that was being announced. In 2024, Carrigan was diagnosed with the rarest and most severe form of valley fever, Coccidioidal meningitis,s also known as “coxy meningitis.”
Coxy meningitis is a permanent infection in the brain and spinal cord and is an infection that will require indefinite treatment.
“Last year’s diagnosis was life-altering for me and my family. Unfortunately, I now personally understand the weight of Valley Fever and the toll the disease and treatment takes on an individual,” said Carrigan.
Carrigan also explained that this Disease Fighters initiative is about humanizing diseases that effect every day life and putting a face to the numbers.
“It’s about going beyond the statistics and shining a light on the personal experiences of those who have a Valley Fever story,” said Carrigan. “This campaign highlights the journey of the illness, the challenges of treatment, the highs and lows of recovery, the resilience of those that are impacted, and aims to inspire hope to those who are currently struggling with their illness.”
