Kern County Public Health launches Valley Fever Ambassador program after 41 reported deaths in 2025

Around Kern County reported that Kern County Public Health has launched a valley fever awareness campaign and announced a community Valley Fever Ambassador program at a recent press conference.

The program said public health reported 41 valley fever-related deaths in 2025. The segment explained that valley fever is caused by a soil-borne fungus whose spores can become airborne when soil is disturbed by wind or activity; people and animals may inhale spores and some individuals can develop severe illness.

The broadcast offered a brief myth-or-fact quiz (e.g., "Pets can get valley fever" — Fact; "You can get valley fever from pesticides" — Myth) and encouraged residents to volunteer. To join, viewers were told to email publichealthvalleyfever@kerncounty.com and sign up for a 30-minute training to become an ambassador and share prevention and resource information.