Causes of Valley Fever
You can get valley fever when you inhale the spores of the fungi that causes it. Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii, the fungus that causes valley fever, are found in the soil in some areas of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, California, Texas, and Washington. It bears the name of California’s San Joaquin Valley. The fungus are frequently found in northern Mexico, Central America, and South America as well.
The life cycle of coccidioides species is complex, just like that of many other fungi. When the soil is disturbed whether during construction or dust storms, they develop in the soil as a mold with long filaments that separate into airborne spores. The spores can then be inhaled by a person.
Because of their size, the spores are able to travel great distances on the wind. The spores multiply once they’re inside the lungs, continuing the disease cycle.