{
  "id": 3029147,
  "title": "Dry landscapes and newly fallowed fields may raise California Valley fever risk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dry-landscapes-and-newly-fallowed-fields-may-raise-california-valley",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T13:40:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-dry-landscapes-newly-fallowed-fields.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers from UC San Diego and UC Berkeley have discovered that certain landscapes near California communities are linked to varying rates of Valley fever, a respiratory infection caused by inhaling fungal spores. Dry, barren landscapes and specific types of farmland were found to have higher disease rates, while other farming practices were linked to lower rates. The study, published in Science Advances, was conducted by Alexandra Heaney, a researcher at UC San Diego, and Justin Remais, a professor at UC Berkeley. The findings imply that land management choices can have broader health impacts than previously recognized.\n\nValley fever, caused by the Coccidioides fungus, spreads when soil is disturbed by wind, farming, or construction. This leads to the release of fungal spores into the air, which can be inhaled and cause illness. Despite the fact that the infection does not spread between individuals, it can result in a severe respiratory illness that lasts from weeks to months. A small portion of infections can become severe, causing widespread lung disease. The southern San Joaquin Valley, a major agricultural region in California, has seen a rise in Valley fever cases, attributed to drought, water scarcity, and regulations on groundwater use.\n\nTo understand the relationship between land use and Valley fever, researchers examined 65,657 confirmed cases reported between 2008 and 2021. They analyzed high-resolution maps showing natural vegetation, crop types, and fallowed fields across 20 California counties with higher disease rates. The researchers discovered that communities surrounded by more shrubland, barren land, and grassland had higher Valley fever rates. Certain agricultural land uses, such as fields of grain, hay, and fields with multiple harvests, were associated with higher disease rates. On the other hand, orchards, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and rice were linked to lower incidence.\n\nThe researchers suggest that dry, sparsely vegetated landscapes may create conditions favorable to the Coccidioides fungus and produce dust containing fungal spores. Farming activities like plowing and harvesting can also disturb the soil and release spores. Seasonal patterns of cultivation may also play a role, as certain crops are harvested during the summer and fall when infectious spores are most abundant. The study also found that newly fallowed land, particularly if it had a mixed history of crops, was associated with higher disease rates. However, the relationship varied depending on the land's previous use. As California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act leads to increased fallowing of agricultural land, these findings could help inform public health strategies to protect communities from exposure to Coccidioides spores.",
  "summary": "Researchers at UC San Diego and UC Berkeley have found that certain landscapes surrounding California communities are associated with differing rates of Valley fever, a fungal respiratory infection caused by inhaling spores carried in windblown dust.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dry, barren landscapes linked to higher Valley fever rates",
    "Certain agricultural lands, like grain and hay fields, associated with higher disease rates",
    "Newly fallowed land, especially with mixed crop history, shows increased Valley fever risk"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}