A life-threatening fungal illness is rapidly spreading throughout central California, health officials say.
The number of Valley Fever cases rose eight percent in 2018 from the previous year - up to more than 8,100 from more than 7,500, according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health last week.
The increase from 2016, when cases totaled around 5,700, was even more shocking - an sharp spike of 42 percent.
Kern County, which is about 133 miles from Los Angeles, was hit the hardest by far, documenting a little more than 3.000 cases - up 23 percent from 2017 and 48 percent from 2016.
Nine deaths were recorded in the county in 2017, which is the highest number in more than a decade, reported SFGATE.
Valley Fever cases rose eight percent in 2018 from 2017 and 42 percent from 2016, a report from the California Department of Public Health revealed
Counties that also saw a high number of cases include Los Angeles (1,036), Fresno (632), Tulare (425), and San Luis Obispo (353).
'We've seen a lot more cases recently,' Michelle Rivera, a health education specialist for Fresno County, told SFGATE. 'Not all providers are testing for it so there might be more cases out there.'
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