What is Valley Fever?
Valley fever is a lung infection that is caused by the Coccidioides fungus, which is found in the Southwestern United States, parts of Washington State and Central and South America. When soil is stirred into the air by anything that disrupts the soil, such as farming, construction and wind, the Coccidioides spores can become airborne, allowing them to be inhaled. Coccidioides fungi can cause valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis.
Valley Fever Symptoms
Valley fever is the initial form of coccidioidomycosis infection. This initial illness can develop into more serious diseases, including chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
Acute coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) – The acute form of coccidioidomycosis is typically mild, with few or no symptoms (asymptomatic). However, if signs and symptoms do occur, they are likely to develop 1 to 3 weeks after exposure, and may include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Joint aches and muscle soreness
- Red, spotty rash, mainly on lower legs but sometimes on the chest, arms and back
Chronic coccidioidomycosis – If the initial coccidioidomycosis infection doesn’t resolve completely on its own, it may progress to a chronic form of pneumonia, which is most common in patients with compromised immune systems.
Signs and symptoms of chronic coccidioidomycosis include:
- Low-grade fever
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Blood-tinged sputum (matter discharged during coughing)
- Nodules in the lungs
Who is at Risk for Valley Fever?
Anyone who lives in or travels to the southwestern U.S. (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah), or parts of Mexico or Central or South America are susceptible to developing Valley fever. Valley fever can affect people of any age; however, the disease is most common in adults over the age of 60.
Groups at an increased risk for developing the severe forms of Valley fever include people who:
- Have weakened immune systems
- Have HIV/AIDS
- Have had an organ transplant
- Are taking medications such as corticosteroids or TNF-inhibitors 3
- Pregnant women
- Have diabetes
- Are Black or Filipino
Medical Experts Warn of Rising Threat of Valley Fever: FOX 11 Video
Valley Fever Workers’ Compensation Statistics
- Nearly 75% of people with Valley Fever miss school or work. Injured Workers who miss work are entitled to receive disability benefits.
- Up to 40% of people with Valley Fever require hospitalization. The average hospital stay for a person with Valley Fever is almost $50,000.00. Workers’ Compensation is responsible for the entire hospital bill.
- A recent study found that at least 3,089 coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths occurred in the United States from 1990 to 2008. If a case of Valley Fever death is determined to be caused by workplace exposure, the dependents of the injured worker may be able to claim death benefits and reimbursement for burial expenses.
Proving Work Exposure in Valley Fever Cases
Whether a valey fever infection is covered by workers’ compensation liability depends on whether the condition developed “arising out of employment” (AOE), or during the “course of employment” (COE).
The employee has the burden of proving reasonable probability of workplace causation, but that does not require proof of causation to a scientific certainty; rather, it is sufficient if work is a contributing cause of the injury. There is a 2-part test for determining whether an injury is AOE/COE.
Part 1 requires the injury to occur COE, which refers to the time, place and circumstances under which an injury occurs. An employee acts within the course of employment when they do those reasonable things that the contract of employment permits to be done.
Part 2 requires the injury to occur AOE, which means that the injury and employment must be linked in some causal manner. In other words, the injury must occur by reason of a condition or incident of employment.
Do I Have a Valley Fever Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Valley Fever Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new valley fever cases in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one was diagnosed with valley fever, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a Valley Fever Class Action Lawsuit and our lawyers can help.