A disease called Valley Fever is sweeping regions of the American southwest including parts of New Mexico, Texas and California. With around 150 thousand cases every year,Valley Fever is caused by the Coccidioides fungus, or cocci, that lives in the soil of dry, warm places with little rainfall.

A disease called Valley Fever is sweeping regions of the American southwest including parts of New Mexico, Texas and California.

With around 150 thousand cases every year, Valley Fever is caused by the Coccidioides fungus, or cocci, that lives in the soil of dry, warm places with little rainfall.

Agriculture and construction activities like digging, along with high winds carry the fungus spores into the air.

The spores are inhaled and transmitted to people’s respiratory system, where it can spread to other parts of their body.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were ten times more cases of the disease reported between 1998 and 2011.

It was the second most reported illness during 2012 in Arizona, which is home to two thirds of Valley Fever cases.

Although it can be fatal in some people, 60 percent of those infected with the disease show no symptoms.

When they are noticeable, signs can range from flu like illness to a red skin rash that develops into legions.

Conducting research with the spores can be dangerous.

In one study, students two stories above the research laboratory got infected with them.