It's a disease that is impossible to control and difficult to treat. Now, new numbers show more people in Kern County are being diagnosed with Valley Fever.
Valley Fever is a fungal infection that is inhaled into the lungs, causing flu-like symptoms. Doctors at Kern Medical Center say there were 500 more cases of Valley Fever last year, compared to the year before.
There isn't a day that goes by that Pasqual Hernandez doesn't think about his daughter Jackie, who died four years ago after a long and hard fight with Valley Fever.
"She couldn't move, sponge bathes. The point where they couldn't find veins for IVs," he explained.
The Bakersfield High School sophomore was in the fight of her life for more than two years, before her immune system eventually gave out.
"No parent wants to see their kid suffer that much, not even a quarter of her life was lived," said Hernandez.
Doctor Royce Johnson is the Chief of Infectious Disease at KMC. "In the last year, we're probably up 400 or 500 cases over 2010."
Dr. Johnson says there has been an increase in cases because of the climate and rainfall patterns.
But, you can't track Valley Fever spores in the air, similar to the way we track pollen.
"Even if you did capture it in a filter, it would take you several days to grow it, and by then the wind wouldn't be blowing," said Dr. Johnson.
Valley Fever is a fungus that lives in the soil. When the wind picks up the dirt the tiny spores are inhaled and that's when the infection starts.
"It can fly through the air for 75 miles, so most of the disease is probably not from your property or your neighbors. It came from quite a distance. It's usually undisturbed soil," he continued.
For some, it may feel like a cold or the flu. For others, it can be more serious.
"Anybody that has flu-like symptoms that persist for any period of time, should seek medical attention. Anybody that has pneumonia in Bakersfield that lasts longer than two weeks, there's an excellent chance it's Valley Fever."
Hernandez wants to warn other parents. be vigilant. "You get sick and you think it's just the flu, don't take their word for it. Ask them for the Valley Fever test."
There are treatments for Valley Fever, but there is no cure. Researchers are still trying to create a vaccine.
