The Brief

Cases of valley fever — a lung infection that can cause severe sickness in some people — are rising across California. And state health officials said they’re seeing an increasing number of cases of the disease reported outside the Central Valley and Central Coast areas where valley fever is traditionally most common.

In the first half of this year alone, more than 5,300 people in California have caught valley fever — including five people who contracted the disease after attending the Lightning in a Bottle music festival outside Bakersfield, according to the California Department of Public Health. These cases “occurred among people who traveled through Kern County, California, to attend the outdoor music festival,” officials said.

Three of the festivalgoers were hospitalized with the condition, which is not contagious. More people among the 20,000-plus attendees at the festival may have been affected.

While valley fever has been present in the Western U.S. for years, the frequency of cases has gone up in recent years. According to new research funded by the National Institutes of Health, the number of valley fever cases tripled between 2014 and 2018 — and then tripled again between 2018 and 2022. Overall, the infection rate has increased by 800% over the past 20 years.

“We are observing quite a bit of expansion of valley fever in California,” CDPH epidemiologist Gail Cooksey told health care professionals at a briefing last week, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. “Something you may not have previously thought was in your [backyard] may start to emerge in those areas.”

Climate and health experts believe that changing climate conditions are contributing to the increase, with whiplashed cycles of wet weather followed by drought creating an ideal environment for the fungus that causes valley fever to thrive.

• Read more about the link between valley fever and climate change.

This all means that folks who were previously unfamiliar with valley fever — or have assumed the disease is unlikely to affect them personally — might benefit from knowing more about this condition and its symptoms. Keep reading for how to spot valley fever, who is most at risk of getting seriously sick and how to seek testing and treatment.

What is valley fever, and how do people catch it?

Valley fever is a lung infection that’s caused by a fungus called coccidioides (or “cocci”), which lives in soil in certain areas of California and the Southwestern U.S.

When soil that’s contaminated with cocci is kicked up or otherwise disturbed, infectious spores — that is, tiny particles — are released into the air and can be inhaled by people and animals. From there, cocci can enter the lungs and cause the disease known as valley fever (or coccidioidomycosis), resulting in symptoms that resemble pneumonia.

“You can get valley fever from just one breath of dust from outdoor air that contains spores of the valley fever fungus,” CDPH said. That said, the disease is “something that we think is much more common to get if you’re exposed to large amounts of dust,” said Alexandra Heaney, an assistant professor of public health at UC San Diego.

Anyone can get valley fever, but CDPH said that people who live, work, or travel in areas with high rates of valley fever are particularly at risk — especially people who are near areas where dirt and soil are stirred up, like construction, landscaping or archeological sites.

Pets can also be infected with valley fever and present different symptoms than humans.

Where am I most at risk from valley fever?

“Valley fever” itself is named for the San Joaquin Valley, where the majority of cases have historically been concentrated within California. But the disease is no longer limited to the Central Valley and Central Coast areas, where many people associate it with most. State health officials said that “more and more cases” have been recently reported in Central and Southern California.

Travel to these areas poses a risk of contracting valley fever. In the first half of 2024, 300 cases of the disease were reported in residents of the nine-county Bay Area. In that same timeframe, 35% of all cases of valley fever in California were reported in Kern County, where the Lightning in the Bottle festival took place outside Bakersfield in May.

• See the California Department of Public Health’s map of areas where valley fever has been detected.

To complicate matters when it comes to the geography of the disease, the fungus that causes valley fever can travel some distance in the air. “So even if you don’t live in the region, you still might be exposed,” Katrina Hoyer, an immunologist at UC Merced, told CalMatters.

Wildfire smoke, which can already travel huge distances and cause health complications, could also contribute to the spread of the cocci fungus. According to a 2020 paper published in the journal Science, the spores that cause valley fever can essentially hitch a ride with this smoke and travel hundreds — even thousands — of miles into areas where the disease isn’t usually common.

Is there a particular time of year I’m most at risk from valley fever?

People can get valley fever any time of the year, according to CDPH — but a person is “more likely” to be infected in the late summer and fall than at other times of the year.

“We’re going into the season for valley fever right now,” state epidemiologist Cooksey warned health professionals in mid-August — noting that it was “definitely time to watch out for increases.”

What are the symptoms of valley fever?

Not everyone who is exposed to the cocci fungus will get valley fever. But those who do can get the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Cough
• Fever and headache
• Shortness of breath
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• A rash on upper body or legs

The symptoms of valley fever can last for anywhere from a week to a few months, but health officials advise that if symptoms last for more than a week, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Is valley fever contagious if I get it?

No: Valley fever is a respiratory disease, but it isn’t contagious in the way that COVID-19 or the flu is. Other people with valley fever can’t infect you, and if you get it, you can’t infect others either.

How will I know if my symptoms are really valley fever? Is there a test?

Valley fever has a fairly long incubation period, which can cause confusion when pinpointing the source of a sickness. Symptoms don’t show up straight away — rather, they take between one and three weeks to start. Several of the symptoms of valley fever can be easily confused with COVID-19, including fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches.

All this means that “the only way to find out if you have Valley fever is to see a doctor,” CDPH said. A blood test or a skin test can be used to diagnose valley fever and is available from health care providers.

CDPH recommends that when you see a doctor, “think about any recent outdoor exposures to dirt and dust you may have had, especially if you work outdoors or have recently traveled to or through areas where valley fever is common.” You’ll also be asked if you’ve had any symptoms for more than a week.

How dangerous is valley fever, and what treatment is available?

The CDC said that many people who get sick with valley fever have “mild symptoms,” and they’ll “often get better without medication within a few months.”

However, some people who are at higher risk for severe disease from valley fever (see below) should seek treatment to make sure their infection doesn’t get worse. Currently, this treatment is a three- to six-month course of oral antifungal medication like fluconazole.

“Rarely,” valley fever can result in severe lung infections or infections throughout the body, according to the CDC. The agency said that around 5%–10% of people who get valley fever will develop “serious or long-term problems in their lungs,” and in around 1% of cases, the valley fever infection can spread from the lungs to elsewhere in the body, including the brain and nervous system, skin or bones.

In “extremely rare cases,” the agency said, the spores from the cocci fungus can enter your skin through a cut or even a splinter and cause an infection that way.

Who’s most at risk of developing severe disease from valley fever?

CDPH said these groups include:

• Older adults (60+ years old)
• People who are Black or Filipino
• Pregnant people, especially in the later stages of pregnancy
• People with diabetes
• People with health conditions that weaken the immune system, such as cancer, HIV, autoimmune illnesses, treatment with medications that affect the immune system like chemotherapy and steroids, and organ transplant recipients.

What can I do to lower my risk of getting valley fever?

There currently is no vaccine against valley fever, according to the CDC, but “scientists are continuing to work on a vaccine to prevent valley fever with minimal side effects.”

Moreover, the CDC acknowledges that it’s “very difficult” to avoid breathing in this type of fungus “in areas where it lives in the environment.”

What to do when you’re driving through an area where valley fever is common

CDPH advised that you keep all car windows closed and use the “recirculating air” button in your car if you have one (it’s the button with the symbol of a car with a looping arrow inside it.)

When your recirculating air is on, your car will stop taking in any air from the outside — and instead, your AC will recirculate the air that’s already inside your car. This will help prevent dust carrying this fungus from entering your car while still keeping the inside of your car cool.

What to do if you’re visiting where valley fever is common

Locations like construction and excavation sites can pose more risk, as the cocci fungal spores can travel into the air when dust is kicked up. The CDC said that if you can’t avoid these areas outright, you should wear a fitted N95 mask and stay inside during dust storms.

The agency also recommended using air filtration or air conditioning indoors and avoiding activities like gardening that involve “contact with soil.” UC San Diego’s Heaney noted that when activities like gardening or construction are unavoidable, “wetting down soil before doing any of that disruption can help prevent the emission of dust” and help reduce your valley fever risks.

KQED’s Katie DeBenedetti and Riley Cooke contributed to this story.

LAist reports on local issues for — and with — communities across Southern California, but chances are most readers have never spoken with a journalist before. Your stories and experiences power our reporting, so it’s important that people know what to expect when they speak with a reporter.

That’s what this guide is for.

Below are some tips from our newsroom on what to keep in mind when talking to a journalist.

Remember: You are the expert on your own life

Tell the story you want to tell about yourself.

Be honest. Truthfulness and facts are central to journalistic ethics.

Also know your worth. Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.

Common questions

How can I get a journalist’s attention?

Contact reporters by social media or send them a personal email — at LAist, contact information is available on our staff page. If you meet a reporter, get their business card. It will usually have a direct phone number to talk with them.

Will all my words be published?

Probably not. Journalists are often working with a limited word count or air time. They will likely use one short sound bite or quote from you. It’s also possible they will not use your interview at all. Reporters and their editors decide what will get published.

Can I see a copy of the story before it's published?

Probably not. It is against journalistic ethics to have sources review a story before it’s published. Imagine if a journalist were to do a piece about government corruption. You wouldn’t want the government agency to review the story and edit it. Editors review stories for accuracy.

When will the story be published?

It depends on the type of story. Some stories are short and may air on the radio or be published online the same day you talk to the reporter. Other times a reporter might work on a story for several weeks or months. It’s OK to follow up with the reporter who talked to you and ask when the story might be done and ask them to let you know where you can read or hear it.

Can I speak with a fact-checker?

You are welcome to ask reporters about their fact-checking process or how they make sure a story is accurate. Not all outlets have fact-checkers. If the story is an investigative story or a long-form or magazine format, designated fact-checkers are more common. At LAist, reporters and editors are responsible for verifying information.

What if I am asked about something that makes me feel uncomfortable?

Your story is your own and during an interview you have full control over what you say to a reporter. Answer questions in any way that makes you feel most comfortable, and you can always decline to answer a question.

What do I do if a reporter asks me about my immigration status?

You don't have to disclose your immigration status to a reporter. If it's directly relevant to the story, a trustworthy reporter will explain that and also tell you how they'd handle the information. You can decline to answer.

• More on how LAist handles this topic

How do I determine if the newsroom I'm speaking with has a specific point of view?

It's a great question and relates directly to media literacy — meaning how well you can spot misinformation, disinformation and bias. The reality is that we all have points of view. Here are some tools to check on where a publication falls across the political spectrum:

• FAIR's (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), which describes itself as a "progressive media watchdog group" has this media literacy guide.
• PEW Research Center, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan nonadvocacy organization, has information on sources most popular with different political perspectives
• You should be able to find information on who funds the work on the site (corporations, individual owners, subscribers, members and so on).
• You can also check out this interactive chart tracking media outlets across the political spectrum (note that you may need a paid version to search smaller outlets). Ad Fontes Media, which describes itself as a "public benefit corporation" which they said means they are "a for-profit business with a stated public mission," has been publishing its analysis since 2018.

Is everything I say usable in a story?

You can come to an agreement with reporters ahead of the conversation about how your words can be used:

• “On the record”: This means that everything you say in your conversation with the journalist can be quoted, published and attributed back to you. By default, you should assume any exchange you have with a journalist is on the record unless you mutually agree otherwise. 
• “On background”: This means that you are sharing information with a journalist that can be referenced in a story, but is not directly attributed to you. 
• “Off the record”: This means that you are sharing information that is not for publication. People may share experiences or tips off the record if they want the journalist to be aware of the information but don’t want it mentioned in a story. Remember that “off the record” only counts if both you and the journalist agree to it. 

It's worth noting that different newsrooms may use these terms slightly differently. You should confirm with the reporter that you have as shared understanding of the meaning.

Do I need to pay to be in a news story? Can I get paid?

No and no. You will not pay or get paid to be in a news story because this is against journalistic ethics. Anyone who receives payment for a story could be swayed to bend the truth.

What if the reporter gets my story wrong?

If you feel that the reporter misrepresented your story, you can ask for a correction or an update to clarify a point. Reporters want to get the story right and they don't want to incorrect or misleading information to go unchecked. That said, corrections deal with information that is factually incorrect, so you should be ready to explain what was wrong and why. Under California law, you have 20 days to demand a correction and the publisher has to respond within a set period of time.

• More on California civil defamation claims and the definition of defamation.

How can I prepare for an interview?

Think about the main points you want to get across in your interview. What are the most critical things for the reporter to know? Some people like to organize their thoughts into three major points. If you are not used to telling your story, you may want to have a friend ask you some questions to practice. Depending on the story, a reporter may also ask if you have any pictures to share that they can use to help tell the story.

Get involved with LAist

Ask LAist reporters questions

You can reach out to LAist reporters through the contact information listed on their bios. All our editorial staff, including the teams reporting, editing and producing news, are listed here.

How else you can be a part of LAist's reporting

Aside from contacting journalists directly, you can share your story with LAist through short surveys and meeting us in person. Learn more here.

This guide was originally written by former LAist early childhood producer Stefanie Ritoper, with contributions from Mariana Dale. Cato Hernández and David Rodriguez also contributed to this guide. 

File this under things that could only happen in L.A.

Paradise Dynasty, the Singapore-based chain known for its signature eight-flavor xiao long bao, has teamed up with Burritos La Palma — the SoCal burrito institution whose birria de res recipe traces back over 45 years — to create a limited-edition birria soup dumpling. The Birria XLB will be available starting Monday (May 11) for a limited time at Paradise Dynasty locations.

I've eaten my weight in both soup dumplings and burritos, so naturally, I'm a fan of both.

Paradise Dynasty has been on a steady ascent as a major player in L.A.'s dumpling scene, with locations at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.

Meanwhile, Burritos La Palma — known for its simple, savory burritos and finely crafted flour tortillas — has been capturing hearts and stomachs since Alberto Bañuelos opened the first eatery in L.A. in 2012. It’s since grown to several spots across L.A. and Orange County, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2024 for its high-quality, Zacatecan-style handmade flour tortilla burritos at an affordable price.

How the collab came together

So what exactly is a birria soup dumpling? A delicate wrapper, lightly packed with tender birria de res — slow-braised beef stewed in chilies and spices — juicy, savory and gone in one bite.

It all began with a call from Paradise Dynasty, when Jason Kuo, district manager for Paradise Dynasty USA, reached out to Bañuelos, calling it, simply, a perfect match between the two dishes.

Kuo said the idea came straight from the community.

"When we started asking guests and people around us what flavor they would want to see in a soup dumpling, birria kept coming up again and again — it was very clear. If we're going to do birria, it has to be done right. Burritos La Palma was the first name that came to mind."

Bañuelos was "beyond thrilled" to have been approached.

"We come from a small town in Mexico, and to be able to elevate to the level of Paradise Dynasty and that culinary perfection, I can't even really put it into words," he said.

It took months of R&D to get the right consistency. Bañuelos said the process required dialing down the moisture and upping the spice potency and landed on serving a fresh red salsa with thin slivers of serrano peppers alongside — a riff on the black vinegar and pickled ginger traditionally served with soup dumplings.

The Birria XLB's juicy interior is part of what makes it work — the dish is served with a fresh, tomato-based salsa and slivers of serrano pepper in place of the traditional black vinegar and pickled ginger.

(

Katrina Frederick

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Courtesy Paradise Dynasty

)

How it tastes

I got a chance to try the dumplings ahead of the public launch and was struck by how well the combination worked. The juicy nature of birria is almost turbocharged in dumpling form, its savory, herbaceous flavors fully encapsulated in the thin skin, creating an exceptional texture in every bite. The dish hits even harder when dipped in the light tomato-based salsa — a rush of freshness that cuts through the richness, with a spike of heat from fresh serrano. (Feel free to skip the peppers if spice isn't your thing.)

But what's most impressive is how organic it all feels. This isn't fusion for fusion's sake — it's a natural meeting of two dishes that are deeply embedded in the Southern California diet, each playing to the other's strengths.

It feels like a logical meeting of the minds — birria and soup dumplings have both been part of L.A.'s culinary zeitgeist for the better part of a decade, and it makes sense that these worlds should collide.

When asked whether a collaboration like this could happen anywhere else, Bañuelos was quick: "It has to start in L.A. You just can't compete."

Where to try it

Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody. They’ve signed a letter, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.

The letter comes in the wake of an investigation by the California and Texas Newsrooms, public media collaboratives in those states. LAist is part of The California Newsroom.

The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health experts interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.

The letter says the detention violates federal regulations because the children are “entitled to the full range of medical care, including reproductive health care.”

Rep. Gil Cisneros, who represents the central San Gabriel Valley, says he worries that pregnant migrants who are apprehended in California will be put at risk if they’re sent to a part of Texas that is short on obstetric care. Of particularly concern: High-risk pregnancies are common among minors.

“If they were in California," he said, "they would be able to have more choices of the type of health care that they would get when it comes to reproductive health care.”

Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the West San Gabriel Valley, wrote in a statement that “this administration is so intent on restricting abortion that it is using immigration detention as a tool to control these girls’ bodies.”

Mark Betancourt is a regular contributor to The California Newsroom. 

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.

The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teachers union.

A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites.

“‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.

United Teachers Los Angeles called the DOE's accusations a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the district’s reassignment policy.

“[Employees] are not reassigned to another classroom or to any other setting where they would interact with students,” read a statement provided by the union. “This policy protects both students and staff and creates conditions for a thorough and appropriate investigation of allegations.”

What to expect from the federal investigation

The federal investigation, overseen by the department’s Office for Civil Rights, will assess whether the district’s policy violates Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a statement that Title IX requires schools to address claims of sexual misconduct in a “timely manner.”

“It is unconscionable that the district would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids,” Richey wrote. “The Trump administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students and restore common sense to our schools.”

The Trump administration also has recently targeted LAUSD's desegregation policy and transgender student protections.

Last year, the office failed to resolve any cases related to sexual harassment, sexual violence or racial harassment, according to a report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders in late April. Sanders is the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.

In March 2025, the Trump administration pushed to cut over half of OCR’s nearly 600 staff members, which contributed to a growing backlog of cases. Those employees were placed on administrative leave pending the result of legal challenges, and many were later brought back.

The Education Department has also withheld records related to civil rights investigations, prompting a lawsuit from investigative nonprofit newsroom ProPublica.

What does LAUSD’s policy say? 

LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff.

The 110-page protocol document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.

“Los Angeles Unified takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement. “Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of every student and staff member in our care.” The statement also said the district follows Title IX procedures and continuously reviews its policies, training and reporting systems.

The UTLA settlement outlines several circumstances where an employee can be reassigned, including a law enforcement investigation of misconduct, sexual harassment of a student, behavior toward a student perceived to be motivated by a sexual interest and communicating with a student for non-school-related purposes.

School employees are “mandated reporters” who must, by law, notify local law enforcement or child welfare agencies of suspected child abuse or neglect. California Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded K-12 school district leaders in late April of their legal obligation to prevent sexual misconduct and protect students.

How prevalent is sexual misconduct in California schools?

There have been few comprehensive studies of sexual misconduct in schools. A 2004 report to the Department of Education estimated 1-in-10 students experiences sexual misconduct, ranging from inappropriate comments to physical abuse.

A new California law requires schools to train students and staff to recognize and report misconduct and write new policies on “appropriate behavior.” It also will create a new database of educators credibly accused of abuse.

More than 1,000 lawsuits related to sexual abuse that date to the 1940s have been filed against California school districts since the enactment of a 2019 law that gave victims a three-year window to sue.

LAUSD has authorized $750 million in bonds to pay for sexual misconduct settlements related to suits stemming from the law.