New California research indicates that the fungus causing valley fever is present in urban rodent burrows as well as rural areas, while residents near new Kern County oil and gas wells face higher infection risk. Housing, solar construction, and other soil disturbance can also aerosolize contaminated dust. Although many infections go unrecognized, severe disease can cause lifelong illness or death. Researchers urged soil wetting, scheduling controls for dusty work, and public education about protective N95 masks.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-09-24/valley-fever-spreading-to-central-valley-cities-linked-to-oil-drilling