Health experts worried about Valley Fever increase in Fresno County
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno County Public Health officials said their preliminary data shows an increase in Valley Fever cases last year- compared to 2022.
Now, health experts are reminding the community about prevention.
Farmworker advocates say outdoor workers are more than likely to get sick with Valley Fever since this disease lives in dirt and soil.
The Public Health Department agrees and says anyone can catch this fungal disease.
Manuel Cunha, the president of the Nisei Farmers League, says educating workers about Valley Fever is important.
“Valley fever is one spot,” said Manuel Cunha. “It could be here 100 feet away. It’s not even there right.”
Cunha says the heat illness prevention event for ag workers later this month is one way to help protect them.
Another way is attaching prevention tips to their paycheck.
“A simple piece of paper folded, a big print in Spanish, and put it into their paycheck. So when they take a look at it, it’s not a really heavy, simple language,” said Cunha.
Fresno County Public Health says people are more likely to get sick with it around summertime because of the drier conditions.
“Sometimes the spores from the fungus can enter the air. And then, as someone breathes that fungus in those spores, it can enter the lungs,” said Dr. Trinidad Solis with Fresno County Public Health. “And that’s how someone gets infected with Valley Fever. “
Health officials say on rare occasions, Valley Fever can be deadly.
Generally, symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, fever, headache, night sweats, body aches and more.
It can be short or long-term.
“Some patients may require hospitalizations,” said Dr. Solis. There are treatments available for the fungus that causes valley fever, but really it can last several weeks to months.”
According to the public health department, preliminary data shows an increase in Valley Fever cases in Fresno County from 2020 to 2023.
In 2022, 448 Valley Fever cases were reported, and 624 cases in 2023.
This year, as of April 2024, 298 cases have been reported.
The Heat Illness Prevention event is scheduled for May 10, at the Portuguese Hall in Fresno.
For more information, click here.
