Climate change linked to rise in airborne fungal disease
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Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns linked to climate change may be contributing to the spread of Valley fever, a potentially serious fungal infection caused by inhaling airborne spores. The illness most often causes flu-like symptoms, but it can also lead to dangerous or even deadly complications. Once limited to the southwestern U.S., the fungus is now appearing in new regions as dry, dusty conditions become more common. Experts warn that as the climate continues to change, more people may be at risk of exposure.
Source
Heaney, A. K., Camponuri, S. K., Head, J. R., Collender, P., Weaver, A., Sondermeyer Cooksey, G., Yu, A., Vugia, D., Jain, S., Bhattachan, A., Taylor, J., & Remais, J. V. (2024). Coccidioidomycosis seasonality in California: a longitudinal surveillance study of the climate determinants and spatiotemporal variability of seasonal dynamics, 2000-2021. Lancet regional health. Americas, 38, 100864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2024.100864
Additional Reading
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/401242/valley-fever-infectious-diseases-climate-change