Is valley fever contagious?

Not medical advice: Valley fever is not contagious. It is a lung infection caused by coccidioides organisms. Fungus becomes airborne when dust around agricultural areas and construction areas are picked up by the wind. When spores are inhaled a lung infection called Valley Fever can result.

There is no vaccination at this time. Most people are able to recover from Valley Fever on their own, while others may need to be treated with antifungal drugs. The sickness doesn’t seem to affect people a second time. There are about 100,000 cases reported each year and your chances of getting it if you live in the Desert Southwest are about 1 in 33. Less than 1% of sufferers die from it.

The son of Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcaster Bob Uecker recently died from complications stemming from San Joaquin Valley Fever. Steve Uecker was 52-years-old.