Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, is a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, though it is reportable only in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Reportable status is designated by the state or jurisdiction and requires healthcare professionals and laboratories to notify public health departments of cases that meet the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) definition. For nationally notifiable diseases or conditions, states voluntarily submit case data to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for patients meeting CSTE criteria. The number of cases reported to the CDC rose considerably since 2014, as shown in Figure 2. Following a three-year decline from 2012-2014, case counts more than doubled from 8232 in 2014 to 20,003 in 2019. Arizona and California, which account for more than 95% of reported cases, showed similar trends in rates of disease. Incidence in Arizona grew from 84.4 cases per 100,000 population to 144.1 per 100,000 from 2014-2019, while California’s incidence more than tripled from 6.0 per 100,000 population to 22.5 per 100,000 population in the same timeframe. Based on provisional counts, Arizona’s incidence increased to 161.1 per 100,000 population in 2020 and stayed relatively even at 159.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, while incidence in California dipped to 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020 before rising to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2021.

• #2 About Valley Fever | UC Davis Center for Valley Fever

  https://health.ucdavis.edu/valley-fever/about-valley-fever/index.html

  Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii are pathogenic dimorphic fungi responsible for causing coccidioidomycosis in the southwestern part of the United States, Central and South America. Incidence of this disease continues to rise in endemic areas. […] The following links introduce the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for Coccidioidomycosis. […] Epidemiology […] Coccidioidomycosis in Immunocompromised Patients.

• #3 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  Valley fever is a reportable disease in some states. […] States usually report a total of 10,000 – 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly in the United States. […] Most cases occur in California and Arizona among people over 60 years. […] Thousands of cases are not reported, and many are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is reportable in select states. Health departments collect and send information on cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). […] Roughly 10,000 – 20,000 cases of are reported to CDC each year. […] Most cases are among people who live in Arizona and California. […] Rates are highest among people 60 years and older. […] In 2022, states reported a total of 17,612 cases of Valley fever to CDC.

• #4 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  Coccidioides (C immitis and C posadasii) is endemic in the soil in certain regions of the Western Hemisphere, almost all of which are located between latitudes 40 north and 40 south. […] Although residents of endemic areas are at highest risk of acquiring infection, coccidioidomycosis increasingly is being recognized outside of these areas due to travel, population mobility, immunosuppression, and reactivation. Diagnosis often is delayed in nonendemic areas because coccidioidal infection initially is not considered in the differential diagnosis. […] In the United States, C immitis is endemic in California’s San Joaquin Valley and southeastern Washington, whereas C posadasii is endemic in areas of the desert Southwest, including southern parts of Arizona as well as certain parts of Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Coccidioidomycosis occurs both among residents of these endemic areas as well as travelers who visit there. An occasional case transmitted via fomites is reported outside of endemic areas.

• #5 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  Coccidioides (C immitis and C posadasii) is endemic in the soil in certain regions of the Western Hemisphere, almost all of which are located between latitudes 40 north and 40 south. […] Although residents of endemic areas are at highest risk of acquiring infection, coccidioidomycosis increasingly is being recognized outside of these areas due to travel, population mobility, immunosuppression, and reactivation. Diagnosis often is delayed in nonendemic areas because coccidioidal infection initially is not considered in the differential diagnosis. […] In the United States, C immitis is endemic in California’s San Joaquin Valley and southeastern Washington, whereas C posadasii is endemic in areas of the desert Southwest, including southern parts of Arizona as well as certain parts of Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Coccidioidomycosis occurs both among residents of these endemic areas as well as travelers who visit there. An occasional case transmitted via fomites is reported outside of endemic areas.

• #6 Epidemiology | UC Davis Center for Valley Fever

  https://health.ucdavis.edu/valley-fever/about-valley-fever/epidemiology/index.html

  The geographic range of Coccidioides has been derived from clinical cases, soil testing, and on the basis of skin testing performed in 1957 throughout the Southwestern United States. Endemic areas where disease is prevalent include Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Texas, Mexico, and some areas in Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the United States, the annual incidence of coccidioidomycosis is variable, but overall is rising, from a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 in 1998 to a rate of 42.6 in 2011. Of these cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control, 66% were from Arizona and 31% from California. The incidence of coccidioidomycosis in California and Arizona can vary greatly by geographic region, and may be seasonal in pattern. In a yearly summary by the California Department of Health, the overall incidence of coccidioidal infection in the state rose from 4.3 to 11.6 per 100,000 population between 2001 and 2010. In Kern County, however, the rate reported in 2011 was much higher, 241 per 100,000 population. Similar increases have been observed in Arizona. The reasons for the overall increase are not fully clear, and have been attributed to changing environmental conditions, human activities in endemic areas, changing surveillance methods and definitions, increased numbers of immunosuppressed individuals, and even improved awareness and diagnostic testing rates. After coccidioidomycosis became a reportable condition, the case rate even in nonendemic regions increased substantially, but many cases were among people who never previously travelled to an endemic region and were diagnosed serologically rather than by culture, PCR or histopathologically. Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis in patients from non-endemic regions are often reported, but frequently a link is established, however brief the transit, to an endemic region.

• #7 Epidemiology | UC Davis Center for Valley Fever

  https://health.ucdavis.edu/valley-fever/about-valley-fever/epidemiology/index.html

  The geographic range of Coccidioides has been derived from clinical cases, soil testing, and on the basis of skin testing performed in 1957 throughout the Southwestern United States. Endemic areas where disease is prevalent include Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Texas, Mexico, and some areas in Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the United States, the annual incidence of coccidioidomycosis is variable, but overall is rising, from a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 in 1998 to a rate of 42.6 in 2011. Of these cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control, 66% were from Arizona and 31% from California. The incidence of coccidioidomycosis in California and Arizona can vary greatly by geographic region, and may be seasonal in pattern. In a yearly summary by the California Department of Health, the overall incidence of coccidioidal infection in the state rose from 4.3 to 11.6 per 100,000 population between 2001 and 2010. In Kern County, however, the rate reported in 2011 was much higher, 241 per 100,000 population. Similar increases have been observed in Arizona. The reasons for the overall increase are not fully clear, and have been attributed to changing environmental conditions, human activities in endemic areas, changing surveillance methods and definitions, increased numbers of immunosuppressed individuals, and even improved awareness and diagnostic testing rates. After coccidioidomycosis became a reportable condition, the case rate even in nonendemic regions increased substantially, but many cases were among people who never previously travelled to an endemic region and were diagnosed serologically rather than by culture, PCR or histopathologically. Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis in patients from non-endemic regions are often reported, but frequently a link is established, however brief the transit, to an endemic region.

• #8 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  Valley fever is a reportable disease in some states. […] States usually report a total of 10,000 – 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly in the United States. […] Most cases occur in California and Arizona among people over 60 years. […] Thousands of cases are not reported, and many are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is reportable in select states. Health departments collect and send information on cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). […] Roughly 10,000 – 20,000 cases of are reported to CDC each year. […] Most cases are among people who live in Arizona and California. […] Rates are highest among people 60 years and older. […] In 2022, states reported a total of 17,612 cases of Valley fever to CDC.

• #9 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  Valley fever is a reportable disease in some states. […] States usually report a total of 10,000 – 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly in the United States. […] Most cases occur in California and Arizona among people over 60 years. […] Thousands of cases are not reported, and many are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is reportable in select states. Health departments collect and send information on cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). […] Roughly 10,000 – 20,000 cases of are reported to CDC each year. […] Most cases are among people who live in Arizona and California. […] Rates are highest among people 60 years and older. […] In 2022, states reported a total of 17,612 cases of Valley fever to CDC.

• #10 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  Valley fever is a reportable disease in some states. […] States usually report a total of 10,000 – 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly in the United States. […] Most cases occur in California and Arizona among people over 60 years. […] Thousands of cases are not reported, and many are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is reportable in select states. Health departments collect and send information on cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). […] Roughly 10,000 – 20,000 cases of are reported to CDC each year. […] Most cases are among people who live in Arizona and California. […] Rates are highest among people 60 years and older. […] In 2022, states reported a total of 17,612 cases of Valley fever to CDC.

• #11 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  The incidence of coccidioidomycosis is increasing. From 1998 to 2011, the age-adjusted incidence in the endemic U.S. region increased by about 700% (from 5.3 to 42.6 cases per 100,000 people) because of factors such as weather, urban development, and changes in reporting methodology. The annual incidence in California more than tripled between 2014 and 2017 (from 6.0 to 18.8 cases per 100,000 people). The endemic range is also increasing and now includes areas in northeastern Utah, northern California, and south-central Washington. Data suggest that migration of infected wildlife is contributing to this expansion. […] Two studies conducted in 2000 to 2004 found that primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, accounting for 17% to 29% of cases in south-central Arizona during that time. Two-thirds of U.S. coccidioidomycosis cases occur in Arizona, and almost one-third occur in California. About 1% of cases present outside these endemic areas when infected travelers return home. Thus, family physicians throughout the country should be familiar with the evaluation and management of coccidioidomycosis.

• #12 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  In states where Valley fever is endemic and reportable (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah), overall incidence in 2011 was 42.6 cases per 100,000 population and was highest among persons aged 60-79 years (69.1/100,000). […] Valley fever is reportable in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. State health departments collect information about cases of Valley fever and then send the information to CDC. The number of cases each state reports is published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). […] The case numbers reported here are those reported in the annual Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, published in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Numbers reported by individual states might differ slightly from those reported here because of differences in the timing of reports or surveillance methods.

• #13 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, is a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, though it is reportable only in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Reportable status is designated by the state or jurisdiction and requires healthcare professionals and laboratories to notify public health departments of cases that meet the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) definition. For nationally notifiable diseases or conditions, states voluntarily submit case data to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for patients meeting CSTE criteria. The number of cases reported to the CDC rose considerably since 2014, as shown in Figure 2. Following a three-year decline from 2012-2014, case counts more than doubled from 8232 in 2014 to 20,003 in 2019. Arizona and California, which account for more than 95% of reported cases, showed similar trends in rates of disease. Incidence in Arizona grew from 84.4 cases per 100,000 population to 144.1 per 100,000 from 2014-2019, while California’s incidence more than tripled from 6.0 per 100,000 population to 22.5 per 100,000 population in the same timeframe. Based on provisional counts, Arizona’s incidence increased to 161.1 per 100,000 population in 2020 and stayed relatively even at 159.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, while incidence in California dipped to 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020 before rising to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2021.

• #14 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  As the climate warms, the southwestern U.S. is increasingly experiencing weather whiplash as the region swings from drought to flooding and back again. As a result, the public is hearing more about little-known infectious diseases, such as valley fever. […] In 2023, California reported the second-highest number of valley fever cases on record, with more than 9,000 cases reported statewide. And between April 2023 and March 2024, California provisionally reported 10,593 cases 40% more than during the same period the prior year. […] Cases of valley fever are typically highest in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley and southern Arizona, but they have been increasing outside of these regions. Between 2000 and 2018, the incidence of valley fever cases increased fifteenfold in the northern San Joaquin Valley and eightfold along the Southern California coast.

• #15 Coccidioidomycosis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidioidomycosis

  Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in certain parts of the United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and northern Mexico. […] Coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the endemic areas of the United States. […] It was reported in 2022 that valley fever had been increasing in California’s Central Valley for years (1,000 cases in Kern county in 2014, 3,000 in 2021); experts said that cases could rise across the American West as the climate makes the landscape drier and hotter. […] The incidence of coccidioidomycosis in the United States in 2011 (42.6 per 100,000) was almost ten times higher than the incidence reported in 1998 (5.3 per 100,000). […] Approximately 25,000 cases are reported every year, although the total number of infections is estimated to be around 150,000 per year; the disease is underreported because many cases are asymptomatic, and those who do have symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from other causes of pneumonia if they are not specifically tested for valley fever. […] The California Department of Public Health said the 9,280 new cases of Valley fever with onset dates in 2023 was the highest number the department has ever documented.

• #16 Using soil survey data to model potential Coccidioides soil habitat and inform Valley fever epidemiology | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247263

  This model provides an additional step towards enhancing our understanding of suitable habitats for Coccidioides spp., both by modeling the wide range of suitability present within historically defined endemic areas and by identifying potential pockets of increased suitability outside these areas. […] Our model also correlates with case data from public health surveillance. We identified large areas with highly suitable habitats in south-central Arizona and Californias southern San Joaquin Valley, which consistently have the highest incidence of reported coccidioidomycosis cases in the United States. […] This model predicts areas with suitable habitats for Coccidioides in the western United States. Greater awareness of these areas could help the public and certain industries take extra precautions to mitigate risk when conducting soil-disturbing activities and help remind healthcare providers to consider coccidioidomycosis in patients who live in or travel to these areas.

• #17 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself | The Pursuit | University of Michigan School of Public Health | Environmental Epidemiology l Respiratory Infections

  https://sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2024posts/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself.html

  Valley fever is the common name for a disease called coccidioidomycosis, which is an infection caused by pathogenic fungi from the Coccidioides genus. The fungi are primarily found in arid soils of the southwestern United States, as well as parts of Central and South America. […] Cases of valley fever are typically highest in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley and southern Arizona, but they have been increasing outside of these regions. Between 2000 and 2018, the incidence of valley fever cases increased fifteenfold in the northern San Joaquin Valley and eightfold along the Southern California coast. […] Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February.

• #18 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #19 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  Arizona leads the country in Valley fever infections with about two-thirds of the nearly 100,000 known diagnoses across the nation. […] Evidence points to Valley fever as a growing problem in Arizona, yet little is known about who is most impacted by a pathogen that now sickens more people each year in Arizona than in any other state. […] Research shows the most serious form of the illness disproportionately impacts people of color, and likely those who work outdoors, but insufficient data collection, Arizona policies that limit workers compensation claims and a dearth of state and federal funding further shield the public from fully understanding the dangers the disease poses. […] Even though (Valley fever) is one of the most reported diseases here, it is not really super well investigated, said Dr. Mariana Singletary, epidemiologist and infectious disease surveillance manager for Pinal County Public Health.

• #20 Epidemiology | UC Davis Center for Valley Fever

  https://health.ucdavis.edu/valley-fever/about-valley-fever/epidemiology/index.html

  The geographic range of Coccidioides has been derived from clinical cases, soil testing, and on the basis of skin testing performed in 1957 throughout the Southwestern United States. Endemic areas where disease is prevalent include Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Washington, Texas, Mexico, and some areas in Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the United States, the annual incidence of coccidioidomycosis is variable, but overall is rising, from a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 in 1998 to a rate of 42.6 in 2011. Of these cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control, 66% were from Arizona and 31% from California. The incidence of coccidioidomycosis in California and Arizona can vary greatly by geographic region, and may be seasonal in pattern. In a yearly summary by the California Department of Health, the overall incidence of coccidioidal infection in the state rose from 4.3 to 11.6 per 100,000 population between 2001 and 2010. In Kern County, however, the rate reported in 2011 was much higher, 241 per 100,000 population. Similar increases have been observed in Arizona. The reasons for the overall increase are not fully clear, and have been attributed to changing environmental conditions, human activities in endemic areas, changing surveillance methods and definitions, increased numbers of immunosuppressed individuals, and even improved awareness and diagnostic testing rates. After coccidioidomycosis became a reportable condition, the case rate even in nonendemic regions increased substantially, but many cases were among people who never previously travelled to an endemic region and were diagnosed serologically rather than by culture, PCR or histopathologically. Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis in patients from non-endemic regions are often reported, but frequently a link is established, however brief the transit, to an endemic region.

• #21 Coccidioidomycosis – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidioidomycosis

  Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in certain parts of the United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and northern Mexico. […] Coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the endemic areas of the United States. […] It was reported in 2022 that valley fever had been increasing in California’s Central Valley for years (1,000 cases in Kern county in 2014, 3,000 in 2021); experts said that cases could rise across the American West as the climate makes the landscape drier and hotter. […] The incidence of coccidioidomycosis in the United States in 2011 (42.6 per 100,000) was almost ten times higher than the incidence reported in 1998 (5.3 per 100,000). […] Approximately 25,000 cases are reported every year, although the total number of infections is estimated to be around 150,000 per year; the disease is underreported because many cases are asymptomatic, and those who do have symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from other causes of pneumonia if they are not specifically tested for valley fever. […] The California Department of Public Health said the 9,280 new cases of Valley fever with onset dates in 2023 was the highest number the department has ever documented.

• #22 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #23 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #24 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #25 UA Expertise Shines in Valley Fever Research

  https://news.arizona.edu/resources-media/university-experts/ua-expertise-valley-fever-coccidioidomycosis

  Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis or cocci, is primarily a lung disease that is common in the Southwest United States and northwestern Mexico. […] Valley fever is more likely to occur during certain seasons. In Arizona, the highest prevalence of infections occurs from June through July and from October through November. In California, the risk of infection is highest from June through November. […] The Valley Fever Center for Excellence was recently awarded a four-year, $4.8 million grant for research to speed development of a vaccine to combat Valley fever, the sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by Coccidioides spores found in soils of the U.S. Southwest. […] The disease usually affects the lungs and can cause pneumonia. […] It is found in the southern deserts of Arizona (including Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties), the central valley and southern portions of California (including Fresno, Kern, and Kings counties), the southern tip of Nevada, southern Utah, southern New Mexico, western Texas (especially along the Rio Grande), and the northern and Pacific coastal areas of Mexico.

• #26 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  The exact incidence of coccidioidal infections only can be inferred because approximately 60% of those infected are asymptomatic or have subclinical disease and never come to medical attention. An estimated 150,000 infections occur annually in the United States. […] From 1988-2011, the incidence of coccidioidal infections in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah increased from 5.3 per 100,000 to 42.6 per 100,000. […] Approximately 25,000 new, clinically evident cases of coccidioidomycosis are reported annually in the United States. […] Several sharp upsurges in the incidence have occurred. […] A coccidioidal epidemic occurred in California in 1991-1994. […] In areas of highest endemicity, the infection rate is approximately 2-4% per year. […] The number of cases of coccidioidomycosis in endemic regions rises sharply in the late summer and early fall, after the soil dries.

• #27 Study: Longer, Drier Summers Extend Valley Fever Transmission in California | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/longer-drier-summers-extend-valley-fever-transmission

  A new study led by researchers at UC Berkeley reveals that longer, drier summers in California can extend the transmission season of Valley fever, a fungal disease that is emerging across the southwestern U.S. […] The study, published today in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, finds that shifts in seasonal rainfall patterns such as those anticipated with climate change shift the start of the transmission season earlier, and prolong its duration. […] Our study found that these prolonged dry seasons can extend periods of high Valley fever risk, said Simon Camponuri, a doctoral student in Environmental Health Sciences who led the research at UC Berkeley. […] Researchers analyzed historical Valley fever case data alongside climate records to examine how temperature and precipitation patterns impact the timing and duration of transmission seasons.

• #28 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  Valley fever is a reportable disease in some states. […] States usually report a total of 10,000 – 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly in the United States. […] Most cases occur in California and Arizona among people over 60 years. […] Thousands of cases are not reported, and many are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is reportable in select states. Health departments collect and send information on cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). […] Roughly 10,000 – 20,000 cases of are reported to CDC each year. […] Most cases are among people who live in Arizona and California. […] Rates are highest among people 60 years and older. […] In 2022, states reported a total of 17,612 cases of Valley fever to CDC.

• #29 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  In states where Valley fever is endemic and reportable (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah), overall incidence in 2011 was 42.6 cases per 100,000 population and was highest among persons aged 60-79 years (69.1/100,000). […] Valley fever is reportable in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. State health departments collect information about cases of Valley fever and then send the information to CDC. The number of cases each state reports is published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). […] The case numbers reported here are those reported in the annual Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, published in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Numbers reported by individual states might differ slightly from those reported here because of differences in the timing of reports or surveillance methods.

• #30 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis has a predilection for certain populations. Dusty outdoor activities within endemic areas, such as agriculture, construction, and archaeology, put participants at higher risk of infection. Some California correctional facilities have a disproportionate disease burden, although the reasons for this are not clear. People with deficiencies in cellular immunity are also at risk of disease dissemination, as are people with diabetes mellitus, older adults, blacks, and Filipinos. Women are particularly susceptible to complicated disease or dissemination during late pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period.

• #31 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis has a predilection for certain populations. Dusty outdoor activities within endemic areas, such as agriculture, construction, and archaeology, put participants at higher risk of infection. Some California correctional facilities have a disproportionate disease burden, although the reasons for this are not clear. People with deficiencies in cellular immunity are also at risk of disease dissemination, as are people with diabetes mellitus, older adults, blacks, and Filipinos. Women are particularly susceptible to complicated disease or dissemination during late pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period.

• #32 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis has a predilection for certain populations. Dusty outdoor activities within endemic areas, such as agriculture, construction, and archaeology, put participants at higher risk of infection. Some California correctional facilities have a disproportionate disease burden, although the reasons for this are not clear. People with deficiencies in cellular immunity are also at risk of disease dissemination, as are people with diabetes mellitus, older adults, blacks, and Filipinos. Women are particularly susceptible to complicated disease or dissemination during late pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period.

• #33 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis has a predilection for certain populations. Dusty outdoor activities within endemic areas, such as agriculture, construction, and archaeology, put participants at higher risk of infection. Some California correctional facilities have a disproportionate disease burden, although the reasons for this are not clear. People with deficiencies in cellular immunity are also at risk of disease dissemination, as are people with diabetes mellitus, older adults, blacks, and Filipinos. Women are particularly susceptible to complicated disease or dissemination during late pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period.

• #34 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #35 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis has a predilection for certain populations. Dusty outdoor activities within endemic areas, such as agriculture, construction, and archaeology, put participants at higher risk of infection. Some California correctional facilities have a disproportionate disease burden, although the reasons for this are not clear. People with deficiencies in cellular immunity are also at risk of disease dissemination, as are people with diabetes mellitus, older adults, blacks, and Filipinos. Women are particularly susceptible to complicated disease or dissemination during late pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period.

• #36 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  A study released in June 2021, although not yet peer reviewed, shows Native Americans may also be disproportionately impacted by Valley fever in northern Arizona. […] It is difficult to discern exactly where someone contracts Valley fever, Galgiani said, because the spores are so small even light breezes are enough to move them around. […] The CDC suggests some people are at higher risk of contracting Valley fever based on their occupations, such as geologists and construction or agricultural workers, for example, because they are more likely to stir up dirt where Coccidioides may live. […] Not knowing how the disease impacts workers in Arizona is a gap in knowledge, she said, so researchers are now analyzing survey results from workers in Maricopa County that have been diagnosed with Valley fever.

• #37 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #38 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  Arizona leads the country in Valley fever infections with about two-thirds of the nearly 100,000 known diagnoses across the nation. […] Evidence points to Valley fever as a growing problem in Arizona, yet little is known about who is most impacted by a pathogen that now sickens more people each year in Arizona than in any other state. […] Research shows the most serious form of the illness disproportionately impacts people of color, and likely those who work outdoors, but insufficient data collection, Arizona policies that limit workers compensation claims and a dearth of state and federal funding further shield the public from fully understanding the dangers the disease poses. […] Even though (Valley fever) is one of the most reported diseases here, it is not really super well investigated, said Dr. Mariana Singletary, epidemiologist and infectious disease surveillance manager for Pinal County Public Health.

• #39 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  In states where Valley fever is endemic and reportable (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah), overall incidence in 2011 was 42.6 cases per 100,000 population and was highest among persons aged 60-79 years (69.1/100,000). […] Valley fever is reportable in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. State health departments collect information about cases of Valley fever and then send the information to CDC. The number of cases each state reports is published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). […] The case numbers reported here are those reported in the annual Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, published in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Numbers reported by individual states might differ slightly from those reported here because of differences in the timing of reports or surveillance methods.

• #40 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  In states where Valley fever is endemic and reportable (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah), overall incidence in 2011 was 42.6 cases per 100,000 population and was highest among persons aged 60-79 years (69.1/100,000). […] Valley fever is reportable in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. State health departments collect information about cases of Valley fever and then send the information to CDC. The number of cases each state reports is published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). […] The case numbers reported here are those reported in the annual Summary of Notifiable Infectious Diseases, published in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Numbers reported by individual states might differ slightly from those reported here because of differences in the timing of reports or surveillance methods.

• #41 What’s New

  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ValleyFeverDataPublications.aspx

  Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis or cocci) is a reportable disease in California, which means healthcare providers and laboratories that diagnose a case of Valley fever must report it to their local health department. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) uses data on Valley fever cases to track trends and better understand who is affected by Valley fever. […] CDPH provides two types of surveillance updates on reported Valley fever cases in California: (1) provisional monthly updates and (2) final year-end updates. Data are provided in dashboard and report formats. […] Contain data on the final number of confirmed Valley fever cases reported each year, including county, monthly, and demographic breakdowns.

• #42 Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers | Scientific American

  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/valley-fever-is-a-growing-fungal-threat-to-outdoor-workers/

  Valley fever is caused by two species of shapeshifting fungus in the genus Coccidioides, both of which flourish when exposed to moist springs and arid summers like those in the San Joaquin Valley, where the fever got its name. […] What limited data exist indicate that 40 percent of cases become symptomatic, and among those the people most at risk of life-threatening disease are Latino, Asian and Native American people, who contract Valley fever at two to four times the rate of white people. […] Valley fever is undersurveilled and underdiagnosed, and its study and treatment are underfunded. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 200 people die from the disease every year. […] The CDC estimates that only one in 33 cases is reported and has suggested that hundreds of thousands of infections have probably been missed over the past 10 years.

• #43 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  The number of Valley fever cases reported likely underestimates the true number of cases. Tens of thousands more illnesses likely occur. Cases frequently are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley fever. […] Valley fever causes around 15% to 30% of community-acquired pneumonias in Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, yet testing remains low. […] The reasons for the year-to-year changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known.

• #44 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  Arizona, where coccidioidomycosis is a reportable condition, has the greatest number of cases. […] In California, the number of annually reported coccidioidomycosis cases more than tripled from 2000-2006, rising from 2.4 to 8 cases per 100,000 population. […] Coccidioidal disease has a significant socioeconomic impact in the United States.

• #45 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  The lack of rigorous Valley fever investigations at the county level, Singletary added, is partially because of limited funding and staffing, and we also don’t have the mandate to do it. […] Funding for Valley fever surveillance has appeared just once in the past 14 years as a $300,000 line item in the state health department budget, approved by the Arizona Legislature in 2007. […] According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on Valley fever from 2019, Arizona leads the way in missing race and ethnicity data, with just 22% of cases with complete race data and 18.6% with complete ethnicity data. […] Galgiani said research shows that disseminated Valley fever is what he calls a disease of color in Arizona. […] Dr. Jonathan Iralu, an infectious disease specialist for Indian Health Services in Gallup, New Mexico, has seen what he called a steady stream of Valley fever over the past two decades among Native American patients who have mostly acquired the disease in the Sonoran Desert.

• #46 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  The cause of the concerning increase is likely multifaceted. Environmental factors favorable to the growth and subsequent dispersal of Coccidioides spp. may have contributed to a higher frequency of disease. The causative fungus is known to live in arid and semi-arid regions, and statistical models demonstrated the influence of temperature and precipitation patterns on the proliferation of Coccidioides spp., though only a weak correlation was found in some highly endemic areas of California. Periods of precipitation facilitate fungal growth in the environment, while ensuing periods of low precipitation and high temperature create ideal conditions to release fungal spores. These effects may be amplified after droughts; incidence in California declined during the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts but increased markedly in the following two years. Particulate matter of size less than 10 m (PM10) is also thought to impact coccidioidomycosis incidence, and PM10 concentration rose by 12% in the Southwest and 29% in the West from 2010-2020.

• #47 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  The cause of the concerning increase is likely multifaceted. Environmental factors favorable to the growth and subsequent dispersal of Coccidioides spp. may have contributed to a higher frequency of disease. The causative fungus is known to live in arid and semi-arid regions, and statistical models demonstrated the influence of temperature and precipitation patterns on the proliferation of Coccidioides spp., though only a weak correlation was found in some highly endemic areas of California. Periods of precipitation facilitate fungal growth in the environment, while ensuing periods of low precipitation and high temperature create ideal conditions to release fungal spores. These effects may be amplified after droughts; incidence in California declined during the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts but increased markedly in the following two years. Particulate matter of size less than 10 m (PM10) is also thought to impact coccidioidomycosis incidence, and PM10 concentration rose by 12% in the Southwest and 29% in the West from 2010-2020.

• #48 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #49 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #50 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #51 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #52 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #53 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  The reasons for the changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known, but could be due to changes in: The number of susceptible people exposed to the fungus Coccidioides because of travel or relocation to endemic areas, Environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall, which can affect the growth of the fungus and how much of it is circulating, The way cases are being detected and reported. […] If you live in an area with Coccidioides in the environment, contact your local or state health department for the most up-to-date information about outbreaks.

• #54 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  Arizona, where coccidioidomycosis is a reportable condition, has the greatest number of cases. […] In California, the number of annually reported coccidioidomycosis cases more than tripled from 2000-2006, rising from 2.4 to 8 cases per 100,000 population. […] Coccidioidal disease has a significant socioeconomic impact in the United States.

• #55 Valley Fever Facts and Statistics | UC Merced Center for Valley Fever Research

  https://valleyfever.ucmerced.edu/explore-research-topics/valley-fever-facts-stats

  Between 1 percent and 5 percent of people infected with valley fever develop the severe form (disseminated disease), where the fungus spreads from the lungs to the rest of the body (County of Kern Public Health Services Department). […] The rise in cases has contributed to high hospitalization costs of over $2 billion for those afflicted with the illness ranging from mild symptoms to disseminated disease (Sondermeyer, 2013). […] A six-fold increase in the rates of reported cases occurred in California between 2000 and 2011 (Sondermeyer, 2013). Whether this is because of increased awareness of the illness, changes in the environment, or other factors remains unknown.

• #56 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #57 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://beta.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/

  On average, there were approximately 200 coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths each year from 1999-2021. […] The number of Valley fever cases reported likely underestimates the true number of cases. Tens of thousands more illnesses likely occur. Cases frequently are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley fever. […] Valley fever causes around 15% to 30% of community-acquired pneumonias in Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, yet testing remains low. […] The reasons for the year-to-year changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known.

• #58 Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers | Scientific American

  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/valley-fever-is-a-growing-fungal-threat-to-outdoor-workers/

  Valley fever is caused by two species of shapeshifting fungus in the genus Coccidioides, both of which flourish when exposed to moist springs and arid summers like those in the San Joaquin Valley, where the fever got its name. […] What limited data exist indicate that 40 percent of cases become symptomatic, and among those the people most at risk of life-threatening disease are Latino, Asian and Native American people, who contract Valley fever at two to four times the rate of white people. […] Valley fever is undersurveilled and underdiagnosed, and its study and treatment are underfunded. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 200 people die from the disease every year. […] The CDC estimates that only one in 33 cases is reported and has suggested that hundreds of thousands of infections have probably been missed over the past 10 years.

• #59 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #60 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #61 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #62 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #63 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  The lack of rigorous Valley fever investigations at the county level, Singletary added, is partially because of limited funding and staffing, and we also don’t have the mandate to do it. […] Funding for Valley fever surveillance has appeared just once in the past 14 years as a $300,000 line item in the state health department budget, approved by the Arizona Legislature in 2007. […] According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on Valley fever from 2019, Arizona leads the way in missing race and ethnicity data, with just 22% of cases with complete race data and 18.6% with complete ethnicity data. […] Galgiani said research shows that disseminated Valley fever is what he calls a disease of color in Arizona. […] Dr. Jonathan Iralu, an infectious disease specialist for Indian Health Services in Gallup, New Mexico, has seen what he called a steady stream of Valley fever over the past two decades among Native American patients who have mostly acquired the disease in the Sonoran Desert.

• #64 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  The lack of rigorous Valley fever investigations at the county level, Singletary added, is partially because of limited funding and staffing, and we also don’t have the mandate to do it. […] Funding for Valley fever surveillance has appeared just once in the past 14 years as a $300,000 line item in the state health department budget, approved by the Arizona Legislature in 2007. […] According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on Valley fever from 2019, Arizona leads the way in missing race and ethnicity data, with just 22% of cases with complete race data and 18.6% with complete ethnicity data. […] Galgiani said research shows that disseminated Valley fever is what he calls a disease of color in Arizona. […] Dr. Jonathan Iralu, an infectious disease specialist for Indian Health Services in Gallup, New Mexico, has seen what he called a steady stream of Valley fever over the past two decades among Native American patients who have mostly acquired the disease in the Sonoran Desert.

• #65 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  The reasons for the changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known, but could be due to changes in: The number of susceptible people exposed to the fungus Coccidioides because of travel or relocation to endemic areas, Environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall, which can affect the growth of the fungus and how much of it is circulating, The way cases are being detected and reported. […] If you live in an area with Coccidioides in the environment, contact your local or state health department for the most up-to-date information about outbreaks.

• #66 Arizona leads nation in Valley fever, what expert calls „disease of color”

  https://azcir.org/news/2021/09/28/arizona-leads-nation-valley-fever-expert-calls-disease-of-color/

  A study released in June 2021, although not yet peer reviewed, shows Native Americans may also be disproportionately impacted by Valley fever in northern Arizona. […] It is difficult to discern exactly where someone contracts Valley fever, Galgiani said, because the spores are so small even light breezes are enough to move them around. […] The CDC suggests some people are at higher risk of contracting Valley fever based on their occupations, such as geologists and construction or agricultural workers, for example, because they are more likely to stir up dirt where Coccidioides may live. […] Not knowing how the disease impacts workers in Arizona is a gap in knowledge, she said, so researchers are now analyzing survey results from workers in Maricopa County that have been diagnosed with Valley fever.

• #67 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Current therapies often must be taken for long periods of time (in the case of meningitis, for the rest of the patients life) and are associated with a high rate of relapse after discontinuation. […] Significant economic costs are associated with Valley fever. […] Valley fever is nationally notifiable in the United States, but it is only reportable in approximately half of the states. […] Due to surveillance challenges, the burden of symptomatic cases is estimated to be 33 times more than what is reported nationally. […] In the United States, efforts are under way to implement national fungal surveillance through FungiSurv in collaboration with state public health partners, Toda remarked. […] Valley fever is endemic in California, and rates have increased significantly over the past 10 years.

• #68 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Current therapies often must be taken for long periods of time (in the case of meningitis, for the rest of the patients life) and are associated with a high rate of relapse after discontinuation. […] Significant economic costs are associated with Valley fever. […] Valley fever is nationally notifiable in the United States, but it is only reportable in approximately half of the states. […] Due to surveillance challenges, the burden of symptomatic cases is estimated to be 33 times more than what is reported nationally. […] In the United States, efforts are under way to implement national fungal surveillance through FungiSurv in collaboration with state public health partners, Toda remarked. […] Valley fever is endemic in California, and rates have increased significantly over the past 10 years.

• #69 Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop – in Brief | Impact and Control of Valley Fever: Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief | The National Academies Press

  https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26928/chapter/1

  Infection is more commonly reported in men. […] Higher case rates are also seen in Black people throughout the state, and Hispanic/Latino people were found at higher risk in certain regions. […] With climate extremes, Valley fever’s endemicity will likely expand. […] Most Arizona cases (94 percent) are found in the three most populous counties (Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal). […] Hospitalization costs are high, and a large increase in deaths was seen in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […] Therefore, several campaigns have been initiated in Arizona to increase public and physician awareness, including a yearly Valley fever awareness week. […] Gorris research suggests that as climate change progresses, there is increased risk that Coccidioides will be able to spread farther north, increasing the range of endemicity across the western United States. […] Disease surveillance is essential to understand who is at risk and to mitigate the negative health effects of Valley fever.

• #70 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #71 UA Expertise Shines in Valley Fever Research

  https://news.arizona.edu/resources-media/university-experts/ua-expertise-valley-fever-coccidioidomycosis

  Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis or cocci, is primarily a lung disease that is common in the Southwest United States and northwestern Mexico. […] Valley fever is more likely to occur during certain seasons. In Arizona, the highest prevalence of infections occurs from June through July and from October through November. In California, the risk of infection is highest from June through November. […] The Valley Fever Center for Excellence was recently awarded a four-year, $4.8 million grant for research to speed development of a vaccine to combat Valley fever, the sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by Coccidioides spores found in soils of the U.S. Southwest. […] The disease usually affects the lungs and can cause pneumonia. […] It is found in the southern deserts of Arizona (including Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties), the central valley and southern portions of California (including Fresno, Kern, and Kings counties), the southern tip of Nevada, southern Utah, southern New Mexico, western Texas (especially along the Rio Grande), and the northern and Pacific coastal areas of Mexico.

• #72 Berkeley Public Health launches major research initiative to tackle Valley Fever in California and beyond | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/berkeley-public-health-launches-major-research-initiative-to-tackle-valley-fever-in-california-and-beyond

  The increase in cocci in California may reflect greater environmental pathogen density, shifts in the states climate, and dust-promoting suburban development in arid environments. […] Our research will integrate state-of-the-art methods of dust estimation, environmental pathogen detection, and analysis of surveillance data to better understand cocci transmission. […] With California emerging from both a recent drought and record rainfall, and cocci spreading to new areas, there is increasing interest in how meteorological variability, dust, and pathogen dynamics combine with individual-level risk factors to influence cocci transmission in the state. […] Advancing our understanding of Coccidioides growth, dispersion, genetics and transmission will help predict and prevent future infections in California and throughout the Southwest.

• #73 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, is a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, though it is reportable only in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Reportable status is designated by the state or jurisdiction and requires healthcare professionals and laboratories to notify public health departments of cases that meet the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) definition. For nationally notifiable diseases or conditions, states voluntarily submit case data to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for patients meeting CSTE criteria. The number of cases reported to the CDC rose considerably since 2014, as shown in Figure 2. Following a three-year decline from 2012-2014, case counts more than doubled from 8232 in 2014 to 20,003 in 2019. Arizona and California, which account for more than 95% of reported cases, showed similar trends in rates of disease. Incidence in Arizona grew from 84.4 cases per 100,000 population to 144.1 per 100,000 from 2014-2019, while California’s incidence more than tripled from 6.0 per 100,000 population to 22.5 per 100,000 population in the same timeframe. Based on provisional counts, Arizona’s incidence increased to 161.1 per 100,000 population in 2020 and stayed relatively even at 159.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, while incidence in California dipped to 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020 before rising to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2021.

• #74 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, is a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, though it is reportable only in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Reportable status is designated by the state or jurisdiction and requires healthcare professionals and laboratories to notify public health departments of cases that meet the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) definition. For nationally notifiable diseases or conditions, states voluntarily submit case data to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for patients meeting CSTE criteria. The number of cases reported to the CDC rose considerably since 2014, as shown in Figure 2. Following a three-year decline from 2012-2014, case counts more than doubled from 8232 in 2014 to 20,003 in 2019. Arizona and California, which account for more than 95% of reported cases, showed similar trends in rates of disease. Incidence in Arizona grew from 84.4 cases per 100,000 population to 144.1 per 100,000 from 2014-2019, while California’s incidence more than tripled from 6.0 per 100,000 population to 22.5 per 100,000 population in the same timeframe. Based on provisional counts, Arizona’s incidence increased to 161.1 per 100,000 population in 2020 and stayed relatively even at 159.8 per 100,000 population in 2021, while incidence in California dipped to 16.9 per 100,000 in 2020 before rising to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2021.

• #75 What’s New

  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ValleyFeverDataPublications.aspx

  Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis or cocci) is a reportable disease in California, which means healthcare providers and laboratories that diagnose a case of Valley fever must report it to their local health department. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) uses data on Valley fever cases to track trends and better understand who is affected by Valley fever. […] CDPH provides two types of surveillance updates on reported Valley fever cases in California: (1) provisional monthly updates and (2) final year-end updates. Data are provided in dashboard and report formats. […] Contain data on the final number of confirmed Valley fever cases reported each year, including county, monthly, and demographic breakdowns.

• #76 What’s New

  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ValleyFeverDataPublications.aspx

  Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis or cocci) is a reportable disease in California, which means healthcare providers and laboratories that diagnose a case of Valley fever must report it to their local health department. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) uses data on Valley fever cases to track trends and better understand who is affected by Valley fever. […] CDPH provides two types of surveillance updates on reported Valley fever cases in California: (1) provisional monthly updates and (2) final year-end updates. Data are provided in dashboard and report formats. […] Contain data on the final number of confirmed Valley fever cases reported each year, including county, monthly, and demographic breakdowns.

• #77 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/notifiable-conditions/coccidioidomycosis

  C. immitis was found in soil from south-central Washington, including in Benton, Yakima, and Kittitas counties. […] To track the emergence of Coccidioides in Washington. […] To monitor trends in the epidemiology of disease due to Coccidioides. […] Human or animal infections with Coccidioides are reportable in Washington State. […] Coccidioides infections notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 business days. […] notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 business days; submission required isolate, within 2 business days; if no isolate available, on request specimen associated with a positive result, within 2 business days. […] animal cases notifiable to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. […] notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (OCDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.

• #78 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) | Washington State Department of Health

  https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-provider-resources/notifiable-conditions/coccidioidomycosis

  C. immitis was found in soil from south-central Washington, including in Benton, Yakima, and Kittitas counties. […] To track the emergence of Coccidioides in Washington. […] To monitor trends in the epidemiology of disease due to Coccidioides. […] Human or animal infections with Coccidioides are reportable in Washington State. […] Coccidioides infections notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 business days. […] notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 business days; submission required isolate, within 2 business days; if no isolate available, on request specimen associated with a positive result, within 2 business days. […] animal cases notifiable to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. […] notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (OCDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.

• #79 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  The number of Valley fever cases reported likely underestimates the true number of cases. Tens of thousands more illnesses likely occur. Cases frequently are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley fever. […] Valley fever causes around 15% to 30% of community-acquired pneumonias in Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, yet testing remains low. […] The reasons for the year-to-year changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known.

• #80 Reported Cases of Valley Fever | Valley Fever | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/valley-fever/php/statistics/index.html

  The number of Valley fever cases reported likely underestimates the true number of cases. Tens of thousands more illnesses likely occur. Cases frequently are never diagnosed or misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley fever. […] Valley fever causes around 15% to 30% of community-acquired pneumonias in Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, yet testing remains low. […] The reasons for the year-to-year changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known.

• #81 Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in Primary Care | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0215/p221.html

  The incidence of coccidioidomycosis is increasing. From 1998 to 2011, the age-adjusted incidence in the endemic U.S. region increased by about 700% (from 5.3 to 42.6 cases per 100,000 people) because of factors such as weather, urban development, and changes in reporting methodology. The annual incidence in California more than tripled between 2014 and 2017 (from 6.0 to 18.8 cases per 100,000 people). The endemic range is also increasing and now includes areas in northeastern Utah, northern California, and south-central Washington. Data suggest that migration of infected wildlife is contributing to this expansion. […] Two studies conducted in 2000 to 2004 found that primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, accounting for 17% to 29% of cases in south-central Arizona during that time. Two-thirds of U.S. coccidioidomycosis cases occur in Arizona, and almost one-third occur in California. About 1% of cases present outside these endemic areas when infected travelers return home. Thus, family physicians throughout the country should be familiar with the evaluation and management of coccidioidomycosis.

• #82 Coccidioidomycosis and Valley Fever: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215978-overview

  The exact incidence of coccidioidal infections only can be inferred because approximately 60% of those infected are asymptomatic or have subclinical disease and never come to medical attention. An estimated 150,000 infections occur annually in the United States. […] From 1988-2011, the incidence of coccidioidal infections in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah increased from 5.3 per 100,000 to 42.6 per 100,000. […] Approximately 25,000 new, clinically evident cases of coccidioidomycosis are reported annually in the United States. […] Several sharp upsurges in the incidence have occurred. […] A coccidioidal epidemic occurred in California in 1991-1994. […] In areas of highest endemicity, the infection rate is approximately 2-4% per year. […] The number of cases of coccidioidomycosis in endemic regions rises sharply in the late summer and early fall, after the soil dries.

• #83 Understanding the exposure risk of aerosolized Coccidioides in a Valley fever endemic metropolis | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51407-x

  Human infections are primarily driven by inhalation of aerosolized arthroconidia and, based on coccidioidin skin test surveys, exposure is common in individuals inhabiting endemic regions. […] As the burden of Valley fever cases continues to increase and climate shifts continue to shape the world around us, it is essential to identify the environmental factors that facilitate the growth of the fungus and dispersal of the arthroconidia within the air to better model the risk of contracting this disease in endemic regions. […] Previous work has explored the relationship between possible environmental factors and Valley fever cases and Coccidioides exposure using statistical methods to model the number of human clinical cases across space and time using weather, dust storm, and airborne particulate datasets.

• #84 Valley Fever Statistics | Coccidioidomycosis | Types of Fungal Diseases | Fungal | CDC

  http://med.iiab.me/modules/en-cdc/www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/coccidioidomycosis/statistics.html

  The reasons for the changes in the number of reported Valley fever cases are not entirely known, but could be due to changes in: The number of susceptible people exposed to the fungus Coccidioides because of travel or relocation to endemic areas, Environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall, which can affect the growth of the fungus and how much of it is circulating, The way cases are being detected and reported. […] If you live in an area with Coccidioides in the environment, contact your local or state health department for the most up-to-date information about outbreaks.

• #85 Understanding the exposure risk of aerosolized Coccidioides in a Valley fever endemic metropolis | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51407-x

  Unlike clinical case data, air surveillance for airborne Coccidioides provides a method to more directly assess Valley fever exposure risk that is not subject to the challenges associated with clinical cases and more directly measures prevalence of aerosolized Coccidioides in a highly endemic region. […] Throughout 2018, the yearly site prevalence ranged from 0.6 to 29.5% (mean: 5.8%, median: 3.3%). In 2019, yearly site prevalence ranged from 0 to 27.8% (mean: 6.7%, median: 1.5%). […] Qualitatively, reported Valley fever cases across five regions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area were generally stable across time and space, with exception of the previously identified spike at the end of 2017. […] Understanding Valley fever risk has been a research aim of the public health and clinical communities for many years, with the majority of previous work focusing on reported clinical cases to identify risks associated with environmental variables.

• #86 Using soil survey data to model potential Coccidioides soil habitat and inform Valley fever epidemiology | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247263

  This model provides an additional step towards enhancing our understanding of suitable habitats for Coccidioides spp., both by modeling the wide range of suitability present within historically defined endemic areas and by identifying potential pockets of increased suitability outside these areas. […] Our model also correlates with case data from public health surveillance. We identified large areas with highly suitable habitats in south-central Arizona and Californias southern San Joaquin Valley, which consistently have the highest incidence of reported coccidioidomycosis cases in the United States. […] This model predicts areas with suitable habitats for Coccidioides in the western United States. Greater awareness of these areas could help the public and certain industries take extra precautions to mitigate risk when conducting soil-disturbing activities and help remind healthcare providers to consider coccidioidomycosis in patients who live in or travel to these areas.

• #87 Using soil survey data to model potential Coccidioides soil habitat and inform Valley fever epidemiology | PLOS One

  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247263

  Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, is a disease that can result in substantial illness and death. It is most common in the southwestern United States and areas of Latin America with arid climates, though reports increasingly suggest its range is wider than previously recognized. […] Current understanding of its geographic range is primarily defined by skin test studies and outbreak locations. […] By providing high-resolution estimates of Coccidioides suitability, including areas without public health surveillance for coccidioidomycosis, this model may be able to aid public health and clinical provider decision making. Awareness of possible Coccidioides soil habitats could help mitigate risk during soil-disturbing activities and help providers improve coccidioidomycosis diagnosis and treatment.

• #88 Berkeley Public Health launches major research initiative to tackle Valley Fever in California and beyond | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/berkeley-public-health-launches-major-research-initiative-to-tackle-valley-fever-in-california-and-beyond

  The increase in cocci in California may reflect greater environmental pathogen density, shifts in the states climate, and dust-promoting suburban development in arid environments. […] Our research will integrate state-of-the-art methods of dust estimation, environmental pathogen detection, and analysis of surveillance data to better understand cocci transmission. […] With California emerging from both a recent drought and record rainfall, and cocci spreading to new areas, there is increasing interest in how meteorological variability, dust, and pathogen dynamics combine with individual-level risk factors to influence cocci transmission in the state. […] Advancing our understanding of Coccidioides growth, dispersion, genetics and transmission will help predict and prevent future infections in California and throughout the Southwest.

• #89 Berkeley Public Health launches major research initiative to tackle Valley Fever in California and beyond | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/berkeley-public-health-launches-major-research-initiative-to-tackle-valley-fever-in-california-and-beyond

  The increase in cocci in California may reflect greater environmental pathogen density, shifts in the states climate, and dust-promoting suburban development in arid environments. […] Our research will integrate state-of-the-art methods of dust estimation, environmental pathogen detection, and analysis of surveillance data to better understand cocci transmission. […] With California emerging from both a recent drought and record rainfall, and cocci spreading to new areas, there is increasing interest in how meteorological variability, dust, and pathogen dynamics combine with individual-level risk factors to influence cocci transmission in the state. […] Advancing our understanding of Coccidioides growth, dispersion, genetics and transmission will help predict and prevent future infections in California and throughout the Southwest.

• #90 Valley Fever – National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases

  https://nccid.ca/debrief/valley-fever/

  Overall risk to Canadians is extremely low, but risk is higher for individuals living or travelling in areas where the Coccidioides fungi are endemic. Incidence of Valley fever in western Canadians is higher, as they are more likely to travel to the southwestern United States. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is not a reportable disease in any Canadian province or territory. There is no protocol for suspected cases in Canada.

• #91 Valley Fever – National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases

  https://nccid.ca/debrief/valley-fever/

  Overall risk to Canadians is extremely low, but risk is higher for individuals living or travelling in areas where the Coccidioides fungi are endemic. Incidence of Valley fever in western Canadians is higher, as they are more likely to travel to the southwestern United States. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is not a reportable disease in any Canadian province or territory. There is no protocol for suspected cases in Canada.

• #92 Valley Fever – National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases

  https://nccid.ca/debrief/valley-fever/

  Overall risk to Canadians is extremely low, but risk is higher for individuals living or travelling in areas where the Coccidioides fungi are endemic. Incidence of Valley fever in western Canadians is higher, as they are more likely to travel to the southwestern United States. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is not a reportable disease in any Canadian province or territory. There is no protocol for suspected cases in Canada.

• #93 Valley Fever – National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases

  https://nccid.ca/debrief/valley-fever/

  Overall risk to Canadians is extremely low, but risk is higher for individuals living or travelling in areas where the Coccidioides fungi are endemic. Incidence of Valley fever in western Canadians is higher, as they are more likely to travel to the southwestern United States. […] Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is not a reportable disease in any Canadian province or territory. There is no protocol for suspected cases in Canada.

• #94

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40475-019-00184-z

  Coccidioidomycosis can result from the inhalation of infectious spores of Coccidioides species (spp.) immitis or posadasii. […] Burden of this mycosis is high in the southwest region of the USA where it is well characterized, and in many areas of Mexico and Latin America where it is inadequately characterized. […] Advances in therapeutic and vaccine development are imperative for the prevention and treatment of coccidioidomycosis, especially for those individuals at risk either living or traveling to or from endemic areas. […] This review examines the history, ecology, and epidemiology of Coccidioides spp. and highlights risk factors such as age, gender, race, pregnancy, transplant, immunosuppression, and imprisonment in Southwest prisons. […] This study assesses the economics of the morbidity and mortality associated with coccidioidomycosis in California such as the costs resulting from uncomplicated pneumonia, chronic pneumonia, and disseminated disease. […] This study reviews cases of coccidioidomycosis in Mexico, Central America, and South America and highlights molecular studies of Coccidioides spp. performed from with human, environmental, and animal samples from Mexico. […] Update on the epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis in the United States.

• #95

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40475-019-00184-z

  Coccidioidomycosis can result from the inhalation of infectious spores of Coccidioides species (spp.) immitis or posadasii. […] Burden of this mycosis is high in the southwest region of the USA where it is well characterized, and in many areas of Mexico and Latin America where it is inadequately characterized. […] Advances in therapeutic and vaccine development are imperative for the prevention and treatment of coccidioidomycosis, especially for those individuals at risk either living or traveling to or from endemic areas. […] This review examines the history, ecology, and epidemiology of Coccidioides spp. and highlights risk factors such as age, gender, race, pregnancy, transplant, immunosuppression, and imprisonment in Southwest prisons. […] This study assesses the economics of the morbidity and mortality associated with coccidioidomycosis in California such as the costs resulting from uncomplicated pneumonia, chronic pneumonia, and disseminated disease. […] This study reviews cases of coccidioidomycosis in Mexico, Central America, and South America and highlights molecular studies of Coccidioides spp. performed from with human, environmental, and animal samples from Mexico. […] Update on the epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis in the United States.

• #96 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  Because of these trends and the virulence of the pathogen that causes valley fever, it is listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. […] Valley fever cases can occur year-round, but in California, cases reported via surveillance systems tend to increase starting in August and September, peak in November and return to background levels in January and February. […] Our research shows that this seasonal surge in the fall is especially strong following wetter winters and that alternation between dry and wet conditions is associated with increased incidence in fall months. […] Valley fever cases in California nearly doubled following wet winters that occurred one and two years after the 2007-2009 and 2012-2015 droughts. […] Our research team recently developed a model to forecast valley fever cases that will occur between April 2024 and March 2025 in California. We forecast that the state is likely to see another spike in cases during the fall and winter of 2024, on par with the spike in 2023.

• #97 Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9316141/

  Population growth may have impacted the rising coccidioidomycosis case counts. Arizona continues to be one of the fastest-growing states, recording a 12% population increase from 2010 to 2020, driven primarily by a 16% increase in the highly-populated Maricopa County; California also experienced a 6% population increase during the same timeframe. Many of the incoming residents are likely immunologically naïve to coccidioidomycosis. Across several endemic regions, desert land was converted to urban and suburban centers to accommodate population influx, resulting in substantial soil disturbance and potential exposure. […] Advances in healthcare practices have expanded the at-risk population for coccidioidomycosis. Prolonged life spans have led to a growing population over 65 years of age. This group has a higher prevalence of chronic disease and is more frequently diagnosed with Coccidioides spp. infection. Developments in therapeutics and medical procedures extended survival for patients with weakened immune systems or previously fatal conditions. The number of stem cell transplants increased by 8% from 2015-2019, while solid organ transplantation grew by 45% from 2011-2021. Use of immunosuppressive agents has become more widespread with greater availability. Transplants and immunosuppressants both represent known risk factors for developing severe coccidioidomycosis. […] Continued surveillance will be essential to monitor trends in case counts and geographic expansion.

• #98 Study: Longer, Drier Summers Extend Valley Fever Transmission in California | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/longer-drier-summers-extend-valley-fever-transmission

  Our findings help clarify the relationship between seasonal rainfall patterns and Valley fever seasonal dynamics, said Camponuri. […] The findings have significant implications for public health preparedness and disease surveillance. […] Understanding the link between climate variability and Valley fever season timing can help us target interventions, such as raising awareness among at-risk populations and improving diagnostic testing during peak transmission periods, said Justin Remais, professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study. […] Healthcare providers should be especially vigilant during and following prolonged dry seasons, as these periods may correspond with heightened disease transmission. […] Our findings emphasize the importance of adapting public health mitigation strategies to changing climate conditions, said Camponuri.

• #99 Study: Longer, Drier Summers Extend Valley Fever Transmission in California | UC Berkeley Public Health

  https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/longer-drier-summers-extend-valley-fever-transmission

  Our findings help clarify the relationship between seasonal rainfall patterns and Valley fever seasonal dynamics, said Camponuri. […] The findings have significant implications for public health preparedness and disease surveillance. […] Understanding the link between climate variability and Valley fever season timing can help us target interventions, such as raising awareness among at-risk populations and improving diagnostic testing during peak transmission periods, said Justin Remais, professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study. […] Healthcare providers should be especially vigilant during and following prolonged dry seasons, as these periods may correspond with heightened disease transmission. […] Our findings emphasize the importance of adapting public health mitigation strategies to changing climate conditions, said Camponuri.

• #100 Understanding the exposure risk of aerosolized Coccidioides in a Valley fever endemic metropolis | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51407-x

  Human infections are primarily driven by inhalation of aerosolized arthroconidia and, based on coccidioidin skin test surveys, exposure is common in individuals inhabiting endemic regions. […] As the burden of Valley fever cases continues to increase and climate shifts continue to shape the world around us, it is essential to identify the environmental factors that facilitate the growth of the fungus and dispersal of the arthroconidia within the air to better model the risk of contracting this disease in endemic regions. […] Previous work has explored the relationship between possible environmental factors and Valley fever cases and Coccidioides exposure using statistical methods to model the number of human clinical cases across space and time using weather, dust storm, and airborne particulate datasets.

• #101 Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall – 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself

  https://theconversation.com/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself-238972

  During high-risk periods, clinicians should consider valley fever as a potential diagnosis. This is especially true when evaluating a patient presenting with valley fever symptoms or a respiratory illness who lives in, works in or traveled to an endemic or emerging region. […] We are currently working to characterize seasonal disease patterns in Arizona as well, which are different from California’s. This is likely because Arizona has two rainy seasons.

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