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Coccidioidomycosis is an acute respiratory disease resulting from the inhalation of Coccidioides fungal spores that are prevalent in the soil of the Southwestern U.S., especially in the San Joaquin Valley of California and desert areas of Arizona. Incidence of coccidioidomycosis peaks in the fall and winter months in these areas and may be asymptomatic, although about 40% of infections manifest as fever, cough, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, and rash. Disease may be self-limited or progressive, requiring antifungal treatment.
In October 2017, the Arizona Department of Health Services observed an increase in cases of coccidioidomycosis culminating in the highest incidence noted in the past 5 years (17.2 per 100,000 population) in D…