Project Overview
Pathogenic environmental fungi are causing disease at increasing rates and across an expanding geographic distribution in the U.S., with disproportionate effects in communities with high socioeconomic vulnerability, paricularly in California's SJV. While many fungal pathogens are thought to be climate sensitive, a poor understanding of the social and environmental epidemiology of Valley fever has prevented a mechanistic and quantitative understanding of the role of social vulnerability and climate variability on fungal disease incidence. This project is collecting and analyzing environmental and epidemiological data to characterize relationships between climate conditions and incidence of Valley fever in endemic regions in California; quantify the historical and projected effects of anthropogenic climate change on incidence rates; and examine the role of social disadvantage in exacerbating future impacts.
Geographic Area of Focus
The SJV; VF endemic counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura)
Contact Information
For more information, contact Justin Remais at https://justinremais.weebly.com/ or https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/people/justin-remais
Project funded by NIH R01AI148336 and R01AI176770