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Source: https://www.kvpr.org/health/2022-08-17/valley-fever-cases-on-the-rise-in-kern-county
Valley fever cases on the rise in Kern County
KVPR | By Joshua Yeager
Published August 17, 2022 at 10:22 AM PDT
An explosion in valley fever cases has Kern County health officials concerned.
The disease is caused by fungal spores that occur naturally in the San Joaquin Valley’s dry and abundant soil.
Those spores can wreak havoc once they reach a person's lungs – causing persistent, severe respiratory illness. In rare cases, the fungus can also spread to the bones, joints or even the brain.
Over 3,000 cases and 30 deaths were recorded in Kern alone last year. That’s nearly triple the 2015 total, says Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan. The county recently launched a digital dashboard that residents can use to track the disease’s spread...
Valley fever cases on the rise in Kern County
KVPR | By Joshua Yeager
Published August 17, 2022 at 10:22 AM PDT
An explosion in valley fever cases has Kern County health officials concerned.
The disease is caused by fungal spores that occur naturally in the San Joaquin Valley’s dry and abundant soil.
Those spores can wreak havoc once they reach a person's lungs – causing persistent, severe respiratory illness. In rare cases, the fungus can also spread to the bones, joints or even the brain.
Over 3,000 cases and 30 deaths were recorded in Kern alone last year. That’s nearly triple the 2015 total, says Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan. The county recently launched a digital dashboard that residents can use to track the disease’s spread...