Valley Fever Awareness

  • What You Should Know

    Valley Fever is a fungus named Coccidiodomycisis that is found in the soil of many areas in the Southwest. People and pets can be infected with Valley Fever by inhaling the spores of the fungus from blowing dust or from close contact with desert soil. Most of us who live in the Arizona will be exposed to the fungus at some point. For some, an infection  will cause illness; for a few it will become a debilitating and life-long disease. 



    Schweikert talks Valley Fever on PBS Horizon

    Resources and Information

    University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence

    Center for Disease Control (CDC)

    UA Valley Fever Forum
    hosted by The 3000 Club

Valley Fever Awareness

On July 24, 2013, Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and I introduced the Valley Fever Task Force in the House of Representatives. The task force is initiating dialogue between Congress and the medical and scientific communities with the goal of taking legislative action on Valley Fever issues.

The task force will also work with community organizations to educate the public on the disease and seek new advancements in prevention and treatment with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for Valley Fever in the next decade.

Valley Fever has silently affected entire communities in the southwest including our family, friends, and even beloved pets. I am honored to be its founding member along with Rep. McCarthy and am hopeful that this working group will bring awareness, reduce the risk of misdiagnoses and bring about a cure within the decade.

Joining us on the Valley Task force are:

Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)
Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX)
Rep. Ron Barber (D-AZ)
Rep. Kevin Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA)


Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)