New research gauges community immunity to valley fever as fungal infection cases increaseFirst such study in decades strengthens public health response, informs vaccine designUniversity of Michigan researchers will determine how much of the population still lacks immunity to valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhalation of spores that can be carried through the air in the dust of dry soils. Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:52:10 -0800Infectious DiseaseNewsResearchEpidemiologic ScienceEpidemiologyEpidemiologyJennifer HeadIn Bakersfield, California, Jennifer Head, left, and student researcher Sarah Dobson load an air filter on a drone in order to sample air for the fungus that causes valley fever.