Valley Fever
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – An elevated number of Valley Fever infections across Riverside County prompted health officials Wednesday to urge residents to take precautions and pay attention to signs of illness so they can obtain treatment whenever necessary.
“It’s important to know about the risk of Valley Fever if you work or spend time in dusty environments and have respiratory symptoms that are not getting better after seven to 10 days,” county Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said. “Symptoms can look very similar to the flu and other respiratory illnesses.”
Infections are concentrated in the lungs, generally stemming from inhalation of fungal spores while working or engaging in other activity outdoors, particularly in dry, windy environments, according to officials.
“Spores can be carried in the air when soil is disturbed, putting outdoor workers, construction crews, farm workers, wildland firefighters and people spending time in dusty environments at risk,” according to a Riverside University Health System statement.
The agency said a total of 465 infections were documented in 2024. To date in 2025, there have been 322 confirmed infections. That is almost two- thirds above the level recorded by this time last year, RUHS stated.
Officials pointed out that among the 309 patients with Valley Fever who agreed to interviews, 59% acknowledged suffering from other conditions that made them particularly vulnerable, including diabetes. One-third of those surveyed worked outdoors.
RUHS advised taking the following precautions to prevent infection:
— stay indoors on dusty days, using air filtration systems wherever possible;
— avoid dusty environments, such as construction sites;
— use face coverings if required to work in dust-laden environments; and
— if gardening, dampen the soil ahead of time to lessen the possibility of stirring particulate matter.
Anyone with questions or concerns was encouraged to contact RUHS Disease Control at 951-358-5107.
Español https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/Recursos-de-Medios.aspx
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