Valley Fever cases in El Paso \u2013 the site of frequent migrant crossings \u2013 have more than tripled between 2013-2022, rising from under 10 to dozens<\/a>, the new research<\/a> shows, due to the region\u2019s frequent and blinding dust storms<\/a>.<\/p>\n The strong winds that supercharge the storms whip up spores of the soil-dwelling fungus known as Coccidioides, and exposure leaves residents vulnerable to serious cases of meningitis and long-term lung infections. <\/p>\n Human-caused climate change is largely to blame, making the conditions that fuel extreme weather events including storms and drought more likely<\/a> with each year of increased warming from greenhouse gas emissions. But that trend shows no signs of slowing without major action to limit emissions, so the new findings could \u2013 at the very least \u2013 help better inform the city\u2019s response. <\/p>\n \u201cUnderstanding the connection between climate and disease is no longer optional,\u201d Thomas Gill, a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s essential for building resilient communities in regions like ours.\u201d<\/p>\n Predictive factors<\/p>\n The highest number of cases were found to occur in the summer months, between July and August, when there were more triple-digit temperature days.<\/p>\n Temperatures that exceeded 102 degrees Fahrenheit in the previous month before the dust storm and peak winds gusting above 64 miles per hour several months earlier were both factors that fueled higher amounts of disease, the researchers found. <\/p>\n So was unusually high concentrations of dust particles in the air \u2013 particularly those that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller.<\/p>\n These are factors the researchers say health officials across the West can take into account for future planning and communications to residents in affected areas. <\/p>\n In El Paso, Sunday is expected to be one of the windiest days the area has seen this spring, and local meteorologists have warned that blowing dust could reduce visibility<\/a>. That could be a day with a heightened exposure risk.<\/p>\n \u201cOur work shows that Valley Fever risk can be anticipated based on environmental signals,\u201d Gabriel Ibarra-Mejia, an associate professor of public health sciences at the university, said. \u201cBy recognizing the conditions that precede increases in cases, health officials and clinicians can be better prepared to detect, diagnose and respond to this disease.\u201d<\/p>\n The science behind the storms<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1489040427.jpg\")
Texas National Guard soldiers uncoil razor wire during a dust storm in El Paso at the U.S. Mexico border fence in May 2023. The border city is frequently hit by dust storms that researchers say are fueling higher rates of Valley Fever (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1489040042.jpg\")
An immigrant mother and child from Venezuela walk through a dust storm while waiting to be processed for asylum claims in El Paso, Texas, in May 2023. Dust storms can cause reduced visibility (Getty)<\/p>\n
![\"El](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/White-Sands-National-Park-New-Mexico.jpeg\")
El Paso is located in the Chihuahuan Desert, which includes White Sands National Park (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n