(The Hill)
Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is caused by the fungus coccidioides. Spores from the fungus can be found on the ground or uprooted by things like construction work, human activity, or wind.
“This is a disease we’ve been tracking for a long, long time and actually the fungus that causes it was part of the offensive biowarfare program agents that were considered by several countries, including the United States,” Dr. Aileen Marty, infectious disease specialist and professor at Florida International University, told WGN Radio.