How do you get Valley fever?
People can get Valley fever by breathing in dust from outdoor air that contains spores of the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil. Like seeds from a plant, a fungus grows and spreads from tiny spores that are too small to see. When soil or dirt is stirred up by strong winds or while digging, dust containing these fungus spores can get into the air. Anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or travels in an area where the Valley fever fungus grows can breathe in these fungus spores from outdoor dust without knowing it. Not everyone who breathes in the fungus will get sick. Valley fever is not contagious, meaning it cannot spread from one person or animal to another.