Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, spreads as the climate warms

SANTA MARGARITA, CA - September 22: Researchers use drones to kick up dust and study how coccidioidomycosis travels through the air on dust in the Carrizo Plain National Monument in Santa Margarita, CA on September 22, 2023. 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)