Rise in `Valley Fever' Cases Across Riverside County Prompts Health Warning

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - An elevated number of Valley Fever infections across
Riverside County prompted health officials today 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.

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