A new pair of bills are moving forward through the state assembly, designed to help fight Valley Fever.
If passed, AB 1787 would standardize the reporting process for the disease by establishing annual reporting and collection deadlines, and facilitate better communication between the state and local health departments, according to lawmakers.
AB 1788 would narrow down the definition of the disease, improving laboratory test accuracy.
The bills will now head to the state senate for a vote.
Both bills were authored by Bakersfield assembly member Rudy Salas.
Valley Fever cases increased for the fourth straight year in 2018, up to 2,929 cases with nine deaths, according to the Kern County Public Health Department.
