Climate-Fueled Fungus Storms Put Lungs—and Sometimes Brains—at Risk
Climate change is fueling “fungus storms”—winds lift invisible fungal spores that can cause valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) and other infections. In the US, valley fever ≈10,000 cases a year (primarily in Arizona), with about 60% of exposed people not getting ill; among those infected, around 10% develop long-term lung damage and roughly 1% have infection spread to the brain or spinal cord, contributing to about 160 deaths annually. Farm and construction workers are at higher risk. Beyond valley fever, fungi like Aspergillus carried by dust may pose broader health threats and are on global health priority lists. Airborne spores can influence weather patterns and carry economic costs from dust storms. While many exposures are harmless, climate-driven changes may expand fungal risks to new areas.
