Tucson, Arizona — Health experts are raising concerns about the growing spread of Valley Fever, a potentially serious fungal disease that scientists say is expanding across the United States due to changing weather patterns and climate conditions.
Researchers warn that so-called “fungal storms” — where microscopic spores spread through dust storms, hurricanes, and floodwaters — may allow the disease to reach regions far beyond its traditional boundaries in the coming years.
Valley Fever Expanding Beyond the Southwest
For decades, Valley Fever infections were mostly concentrated in the Desert Southwest, particularly in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and parts of Texas, where the fungus naturally grows in dry soil.
However, experts now say changing environmental conditions are helping the disease spread farther north and east…