By Ethan Covey
California recently reported the largest outbreak of coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, ever in the state, among workers constructing a solar farm in Monterey County.
The infection, which may result in flu-like symptoms or pneumonia, is caused by the inhalation of Coccidioides, a soil-dwelling fungus. In California, rates of the disease have increased substantially since 2014 (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67[33]:931-934).