Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
A single breath and a single spore. That’s all it takes for the fungal infection called valley fever to take hold. For most people, it’s a blip — a treatable illness. But for some, like Rex Dangerfield and Kyleigh Cooyar, it can cause debilitating symptoms. Climate change is creating ideal conditions for the fungus to spread beyond the West. It’s popping up in places where people have never heard of it. In this Unfold episode, we hear how valley fever altered the lives of Rex and Kyleigh, and we hear from UC Davis Health scientists searching for new ways to understand, treat and one day prevent the infection.
In this episode:
Dr. George Thompson, professor of medicine and co-director, UC Davis Center for Valley Fever at UC Davis Health
Kyleigh Cooyar, valley fever patient
Rex Dangerfield, valley fever patient
A single breath and a single spore. That’s all it takes for the fungal infection called valley fever to take hold. For most people, it’s a blip — a treatable illness. But for some, like Rex Dangerfield and Kyleigh Cooyar, it can cause debilitating symptoms. Climate change is creating ideal conditions for the fungus to spread beyond the West. It’s popping up in places where people have never heard of it. In this Unfold episode, we hear how valley fever altered the lives of Rex and Kyleigh, and we hear from UC Davis Health scientists searching for new ways to understand, treat and one day prevent the infection.
In this episode:
Dr. George Thompson, professor of medicine and co-director, UC Davis Center for Valley Fever at UC Davis Health
Kyleigh Cooyar, valley fever patient
Rex Dangerfield, valley fever patient
