A tragic loss in California has drawn attention to a disease most people have barely heard of: Valley Fever. Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old tech worker from India who lived in the Bay Area, died after battling the illness for a month, a case that is now causing a stir in the Indian community and beyond.

Chiranjeevi Kolla’s death: What happened?

According to family and fundraising pages set up after his death, Kolla’s illness began innocently enough, like any garden-variety cold or flu, with a cough and a fever. But things took a sharp turn. Her symptoms rapidly worsened, and what doctors thought was pneumonia after further tests turned out to be Valley Fever: a serious infection caused by the spores of a soil-dwelling fungus found in parts of the southwestern US.Kolla is survived by his wife Pavani and their five-year-old son Vihaan. Family members shared the impact it had on them, as their young son kept asking when dad would come home. He was the main provider, which made the sudden loss even more difficult.

Valley Fever: What Really Is It?

Valley fever, although common in parts of California and Arizona, is rarely recorded outside those areas. It affects thousands of people every year, but most cases pass with mild or no symptoms. However, some can be serious, as was the case with Kolla.Here’s what we know about Valley Fever and how to protect yourself if you live or travel to at-risk areas.According to the Mayo Clinic, valley fever is caused by a fungus called Coccidioides, which grows in dry soil and desert climates. You’ll find it mostly in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and some areas of Mexico and Central/South America.The disease is spread when a person breathes in dust in which the fungus is hidden, often when dirt is spread by wind, construction, farming or digging. Valley fever does not spread from person to person. You get it just by breathing contaminated dust.

what are the symptoms?

A big challenge with Valley Fever? It manifests as cold, bronchitis or mild flu. Symptoms like cough, chest pain, fever, fatigue, headache and body aches are common. Some people also develop a rash or night sweats.Many people never know they have been infected because the symptoms are mild and go away. But for others, the disease can turn into full-blown pneumonia or even lead to respiratory failure. Rarely, the infection breaks out of the lungs and spreads throughout the body, causing a dangerous condition called disseminated coccidioidomycosis, which can be life-threatening.Some people are especially vulnerable: older adults, pregnant women, anyone with a weakened immune system, diabetics, or people with chronic lung disease are at higher risk of severe illness. Still, sometimes even healthy people like Kolla fall seriously ill.Valley fever cases have risen sharply in places like California and Arizona in recent years, with experts pointing to climate change and more drought as a possible cause — hotter, dustier conditions spread the spores further.

How to avoid valley fever?

Most prevention is based on limiting exposure to dusty air in high-risk areas. If you’re in a dust storm, stay inside with the windows closed tightly. People who work in farming, construction or digging should wear good masks such as N95 respirators to avoid breathing the dust.You can also use air filters indoors, and if you have to dig, wetting the soil first can help keep the dust down. People with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions in the desert southwest.If you live in or visit these areas and you develop a severe cough or a mysterious fever that doesn’t go away, don’t dismiss it as just a stubborn cold. Especially if you’ve been around dusty areas, it’s worth talking to your doctor and asking about valley fever.