VALLEY FEVER SPIKES IN KERN COUNTY

The California Department of Public Health says 2016 was the worst year on record for Valley Fever, with Kern County residents getting the most infections.

More than 2,200 cases were reported here last year; that number doesn’t surprise Communicable Disease Control Chief Dr. James Watt, who says we always have the most infections every year.

Watt says they are trying to figure out what caused the spike but a wet winter may be the biggest factor.

Kelli Forsch