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Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis or “cocci”) is a disease caused by a fungus that grows in the soil & dirt in some areas of California & the southwestern United States.
In California, the number of reported Valley fever cases has greatly increased in recent years. Since 2000, Valley fever cases increased from less than 1,000 cases to more than 9,000 cases in 2019. In 2024, California reported nearly 12,500 cases, the highest number on record for California.
Valley Fever Cases Continue to Rise in 2025 Following Record High in 2024
With summer comes dry, dusty days in California. In the Central Valley and Central Coast, breathing dust or dirt outdoors can increase your chances of getting Valley fever, a disease caused by a fungus that lives in the dirt in these areas. Symptoms can include fever, cough and tiredness that last for weeks.
Most cases of Valley fever in California are reported from the Central Valley and Central Coast regions. But Valley fever cases have also been increasing outside of these regions as California experiences more drought. Valley fever cases are on the rise in California, including in the northern Central Valley and southern coastal areas of California. Learn more about where Valley fever is common and how drought impacts Valley fever in California.
People who work or dig outdoors in certain areas of California are at greater risk of getting Valley fever, including wildland firefighters digging and moving soil to control fires during fire season. Fire safety crews and other outdoor workers in California should learn about Valley fever and know the symptoms, which sometimes appear weeks after exposure to dust outdoors.
Learn more: Groups at Risk | Symptoms | Resources for Outdoor Workers & Employers
Learn more about Valley fever and who’s at risk: https://cdph.ca.gov/ValleyFever
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