California is seeing a spike in cases valley fever — an illness spread by fungal spores. Researchers speculate the rise is tied to patterns of drought and precipitation. … [Gail Sondermeyer Cooksey, epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health:] When we see prolonged drought followed by heavy winter rains, we see these surges in Valley Fever in the years that follow. … There is a lot of concern that changes in climate and environment are going to lead to these diseases occurring more in the state of California, but also elsewhere in the United States.