From the Guidelines
Valley fever cannot be transmitted from person to person. This fungal infection, caused by Coccidioides fungi, is contracted by breathing in fungal spores from soil in specific geographic regions like the southwestern United States. Once the spores are inhaled, they can cause infection in the lungs, but an infected person cannot spread the disease to others through coughing, physical contact, or any other means of human interaction. This is because the infectious form of the fungus exists in the soil, not in the human body. Even if someone has severe valley fever with symptoms like cough, fever, fatigue, or rash, they pose no risk of transmission to family members, healthcare workers, or others around them. The study on psittacosis (chlamydiosis) control 1 is not directly relevant to valley fever transmission, as it discusses a different disease. However, it does mention that person-to-person transmission of certain diseases can occur rarely, but this is not applicable to valley fever. Key points to consider include:
- The mode of transmission: valley fever is contracted through environmental exposure to fungal spores, not through human interaction.
- The lack of infectiousness: an infected person does not pose a risk of transmission to others.
- The geographic distribution: valley fever is endemic in specific regions, and transmission is linked to exposure to soil in these areas.
- The distinction from contagious diseases: valley fever is not contagious like influenza or COVID-19, and does not require isolation or prophylaxis of contacts.
From the Research
Valley Fever Transmission
- Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection caused by the inhalation of Coccidioides endospores 2.
- The infection is not transmitted from person to person, but rather through the inhalation of airborne spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii 3.
- Residing in or traveling to areas endemic for Coccidioides is required for the diagnosis, and no person-to-person or zoonotic contagion occurs 3.
Key Findings
- Studies have shown that valley fever is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, especially in endemic areas 4.
- The diagnosis of valley fever usually relies on enzyme immunoassay with immunodiffusion confirmation, but these tests may not be positive for one to three weeks after disease onset 3.
- Antifungal agents are not recommended for treatment unless the patient is at risk of or shows signs of complicated or disseminated infection 3.
Treatment and Prevention
- Treatment of valley fever may include azoles or amphotericin B, with the standard drug of choice being fluconazole 2.
- Monitoring of complement fixation titers and chest radiography is recommended until patients stabilize and symptoms resolve 3.
- There is no evidence to suggest that valley fever can be transmitted from person to person, and therefore, person-to-person transmission is not a concern 3, 4, 5, 6.