Valley Fever sweeping through Arizona

PHOENIX - Arizona is ground zero for a nasty fungal infection called Valley Fever.

People infected with the fever can be sick for weeks, or in more severe cases, half a year.

The infection is specifically caused by spores carried in dust through the air. Cases spike during the Monsoon season.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, about 5,000 Arizonans are infected by Valley Fever each year, but some doctors believe the numbers are much higher.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tim Kuberski with John C. Lincoln Hospitals told ABC 15 News nearly everyone living in Arizona will contract the infection at some point in their lives.

“There is really no way to avoid it here in the Southwest,” Dr. Kuberski said. “If you breathe air, you’re at risk.”

Humans are not the only ones capable of catching the fever; dogs, cats, and other pets are also at risk.

About half of the people infected never notice any symptoms, or experience mild symptoms, according to Dr. Kuberski. A majority do not seek medical treatment.

The other half of people who have more serious reactions to the fungus show several symptoms including: fever, fatigue, cough, rashes, chest pain, headache and joint aches.

Sometimes those infected will develop red bumps on their skin.

In a small number of cases, around 5 percent, nodules develop on the lungs. On a chest x-ray, the symptoms might resemble lung cancer.

Protection from Valley Fever involves staying away from dusty areas. Dust storms can make it difficult to avoid the fungus, but avoiding biking or hiking in mountainous or desert areas is easier for anyone worried about being infected.

Breathing masks are known to block Valley Fever fungus spores from causing an infection.

The medical name for Valley Fever is Coccidioidomycosis.