Changing Weather Patterns Drive Valley Fever Spread Across U.S.
Valley Fever, a fungal disease caused by airborne spores of the coccidioides fungus, is expanding beyond its traditional range in the Desert Southwest due to changing weather patterns. Historically concentrated in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas, the disease is now being reported in Oregon, Washington, and potentially the Midwest. Climate change is creating conditions favorable for the fungus, including hotter, drier weather punctuated by extreme rain events. These conditions allow the spores to thrive in soil and become airborne during dust storms, hurricane winds, and floodwaters. California has already reported 2,197 cases in 2026, nearing the total for 2025. Experts warn that Valley Fever could reach Canada within decades. 
