Valley fever

Anyone, even healthy adults and children, can get Valley fever after breathing in the Valley fever fungus from dust in outdoor air, especially in the Central Valley or Central Coast areas of California. Certain people have a higher risk of getting Valley fever, especially those who spend more time outdoors and are exposed to dirt and dust. Other groups have a higher risk of getting very sick from Valley fever and being hospitalized if they are infected.

Groups at Risk for Valley Fever

People at higher risk of getting Valley fever include:

People who live, work, or travel in areas with high rates of Valley fever, especially if they:

Participate in outdoor activities that involve close contact with dirt or dust, including digging projects or landscaping
Live or work near areas where dirt and soil are stirred up, such as construction or excavation sites
Work in jobs where dirt and soil are stirred up or disturbed, including construction, field work, military work, and archaeology

If you work in a job where dirt or soil is disturbed in a place where Valley fever is common, you and your employer should review the CDPH website for preventing work-related Valley fever.

People doing activites outdoors and around dust (such as digging) that can put them at risk for getting Valley fever

People at higher risk of severe Valley fever or getting very sick if they are infected include:

Older adults (60+ years old)
People who are Black or Filipino
Pregnant women, especially in the later stages of pregnancy
People with diabetes
People with health conditions that weaken the immune system, such as:

Cancer
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Autoimmune illnesses
Treatment with chemotherapy, steroids, or other medications that affect the immune system
Organ transplant

Older adult couple, Black man, pregnant woman, person testing their blood sugar, person undergoing cancer treatment