Alejandra Lee, a 55-year-old Tucson resident, experienced her first Valley Fever Awareness Week after being diagnosed with the disease earlier this year. Lee described her initial symptoms, which began as chest tightness and fatigue following workouts. After her condition worsened during a trip, she was treated for pneumonia and a partially collapsed lung before ultimately being diagnosed with Valley Fever.
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t just say this was going away,” Lee said about her symptoms that appeared this summer and steadily got worse. “I really want to do this but in order to get better, I have to get better. I have to figure out what’s wrong. You just have to find the right doctors.”
Her experience highlights ongoing efforts in Arizona to improve detection and treatment of Valley Fever as the state observes its 23rd Annual Valley Fever Awareness Week through November 16.
According to John Galgiani, MD, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and Tucson, there has been notable progress in diagnosing and treating the disease. “We have come a long way in diagnosing Valley fever and have made incredible progress in treatments,” Dr. Galgiani said. “We are very close to giving so many people real relief from this awful disease.”
Valley Fever is caused by inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus found in soil across Arizona and other western states. The risk of infection is present throughout the year but increases when dry ground conditions allow spores to become airborne—making November a peak month for new cases.
About two-thirds of all U.S. cases are reported in Arizona, according to data submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite these numbers, Dr. Galgiani noted that awareness remains limited among both physicians and residents: “With that many, you would think that physicians and the community at large would be aware of this disease,” he said. “Surprisingly, this does not turn out to be the case. Valley fever is often the cause of pneumonia in Arizona but physicians don’t often test pneumonia patients for Valley fever.”
Banner Urgent Care has responded by updating its protocols; now all pneumonia patients are tested for Valley Fever unless another cause is identified.
Symptoms can range from mild—such as fever, fatigue, cough, chest pain—to more severe outcomes like respiratory failure or infections beyond the lungs including meningitis.
Dr. Galgiani emphasized that anyone can contract Valley Fever: “Valley fever can occur all year round but is especially likely when the ground dries out and those fungus spores get into the air,” he said. “Anyone can get Valley fever, including children, and knowing that it occurs here in Arizona is key to early detection and treatment.”
Most people recover with or without antifungal medication over several weeks or months; those who recover gain lifelong immunity. Research continues on developing a vaccine—currently underway at Anivive Lifesciences—which could eventually protect both dogs and humans.
Lee advised others: “Be aware, listen to your body and don’t push yourself,” she said this week. “Because there are times when you think, ‘Okay, I can do this,’ and I want to go for a little jog, and I start getting winded. Listen to your body, pay attention to the signs.”
For additional information about Valley Fever visit vfce.arizona.edu; details on urgent care locations are available at bannerhealth.com/urgentcare.
