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 of California. Certain people have a higher risk of getting Valley fever, especially those who spend 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.

Groups at Risk for Valley Fever

People at higher risk of getting Valley fever include:

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

Do outdoor activities that involve close contact with dirt or dust, such as:

Digging projects
Gardening
Landscaping
Attending outdoors events in dusty areas

Live or work near areas where dirt and soil are stirred up, such as:

Construction sites
Landscaping sites
Farm/agricultural land
Excavation sites

Work outdoors in jobs where dirt and soil are stirred up

Some outdoor jobs include:

Construction
Wildland firefighting
Agriculture
Field work
Military work
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 at higher risk of severe Valley fever or getting very sick include those who:

	Are 60 years or older
	Are Black or Filipino
	Are pregnant, especially in the later stages of pregnancy
	Have diabetes
	Have 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

People who are more likely to get severe Valley fever and who live or spend time in areas where Valley fever is common should:

Take steps to avoid breathing dust outdoors, which could mean avoiding outdoor activities that involve dirt and dust or wearing an N95 respirator (a type of face mask)
Be aware of the symptoms of Valley fever
Know what to do if they get sick