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Cases of Valley fever have nearly tripled in San Benito County during the first half of 2025, and neighboring Monterey County has seen an even greater increase, when compared to the previous two years.
As of May 31, the county has had nine confirmed cases of the disease, according to San Benito County deputy director of public health services Mallory Schmitt.
By comparison, in 2023 and 2024, the county saw three confirmed cases each year.
While the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reporting a total of eight cases as of July 31, Schmitt said the state website’s stats are a little behind.
Meanwhile, Monterey County has seen its Valley fever cases rise this year to 348, up from 144 last year and 47 in 2023, according to the CDPH website.
Schmitt said that pinpointing where San Benito residents came in contact with the disease is hard because many work or otherwise travel out of the county frequently.
According to the CDPH website, “Coccidioidomycosis (also called Valley fever or “cocci”) is a disease caused by inhalation of the spores of the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of the southwestern United States, with 97% of cases reported in Arizona and California. Anyone who lives, works, or travels in areas where coccidioidomycosis has been reported can become infected, particularly people exposed to dirt and dust outside.
“Coccidioidomycosis typically causes a mild, self-limited respiratory illness or pneumonia but can lead to severe disseminated disease and, in rare cases, death.”
Most of the cases of Valley fever in California occur on the Central Coast and in the Central Valley.
Schmit told BenitoLink she is unaware of any death from Valley fever in the county so far this year.
Following are some questions and answers about Valley fever.
How do you get infected with Valley fever?
The CDPH states that people can get Valley fever by breathing in dust from outdoor air that contains spores of a 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 the fungus spores from outdoor dust without knowing it. Not everyone who breathes in the fungus will get sick.
Valley fever is not contagious, but can be contracted any time of year.
Schmit told BenitoLink that people over 60 years of age, pregnant women, and people who work around disturbed dirt such as construction workers and farmers are more likely to become infected. She added that any immunodeficiency can also put people at risk.
What are the symptoms of Valley fever?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the disease include:
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Fever and headache
- Shortness of breath
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Rash on upper body or legs
In extremely rare cases, the fungal spores can enter the skin through a cut, wound or splinter and cause an infection.
Symptoms appear one to three weeks after exposure and testing is done by collecting a blood sample, To learn more about your infection and treatment needs, your health care provider may also:
- Do an imaging test, such as an x-ray or CT scan, of your lungs.
- Collect and test fluid from your respiratory tract, or do a biopsy.
Skin testing, not unlike testing for tuberculosis, is another option. Once diagnosed, oral antifungal treatment is usually required and severe lung infections can require hospitalization.
How does drought affect Valley fever?
The CDPH website states that drought affects Valley fever cases in California. During dry conditions and drought, the fungus can survive in the soil even when other microbes and organisms are killed off by lack of water.
During a drought, the fungus is inactive in the soil, so fewer people breathe it in. When rain returns after a drought, the fungus can grow again, spreading spores in dirt and outdoor dust that people can breathe in, making them ill.
Overall, drought leads to increases in Valley fever cases in California in the years following a drought and may allow for the fungus to grow in the soil in more areas of California. More droughts in California may lead to an increase in Valley fever in more areas of the state.
How do I avoid Valley fever?
The CDPH recommends wearing masks with particulate filters rated N95, N99, N100, P100 or HEPA if your work or other activities involve dusty environments or soil-disturbing activities.
Schmit told BenitoLink that people should be extra careful on windy and dry days when the spores are more likely to be in the air.
Read the guide for outdoor workers here.
See more about Valley fever here.
Pets and livestock can also contract Valley fever. See more details here.
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