ST. GEORGE, Utah (KTVX) -- People who are suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms lately (but don't have pneumonia) may have ingested fungal spores that went airborne after dirt around you was disturbed. Health officials say it's more common than you may think, especially in the Western U.S.

Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal lung infection that can cause symptoms like fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, and a rash. It occurs after spores from coccidioides -- which live in soil and dust in parts of the United States -- are breathed in.

Dr. Katharine S. Walter and Dr. Ginamarie Foglia, both epidemiologists, presented during a lecture series in southern Utah about the effects of Valley fever and concerns related to the changing environment.

'No reason to panic' about

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