Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, spreads as the climate warms

LEBEC, CA - September 20: Maria Patricia Alcantara cares for Jose Epifanio Sanchez Trujeque as he gets emotional talking about his illness at their home in Lebec, CA on September 20, 2023. Trujeque spent four months in the hospital with cocci meningitis that resulted in a stroke which paralyzed him on one side. The bandage is from the infusion of medication he received in the port on his scalp earlier in the day. "We used to fly and go to weddings and live, but since he got sick we have to stay home near medical help," Alcantara said. "We don't need a lot of money. We don't need to buy things. We just need health. This is a war and he is a warrior." Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a fungus that develops below the undisturbed surface of soils in hot, dry areas in the western United States. The fungus, when inhaled in dust, can cause longterm and sometimes severe health issues. If the fungus disseminates beyond the lungs, it can cause cocci meningitis, resulting in paralysis and neurological issues. As the climate warms and becomes drier, the fungus, which can also infect animals, could spread to new areas of the country. (Photo by Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images)