MESA, AZ (CBS5) -
Cases of valley fever have skyrocketed. Some Valley doctors are calling it an epidemic. They said the haboobs we've been having might be the reason for the increase.
"I was caught out in a dust storm, a mild dust storm last year in Gilbert for about maybe five minutes," said Gilbert resident Corey Schubert.
But it was those five minutes caught in a dust storm that left him sick for several weeks.
"I could not move off the couch, I couldn't even grab the remote control ... that classic ... elephant on your chest," he said.
Mold was growing in his lung. He had valley fever.
"'Coxy' spores reside in the soil," said Banner Health Dr. Loreto Sulit.
Sulit said dust storms can kick up those spores into the air. If inhaled, people could become sick with flu-like symptoms.
"I do think it's hitting epidemic proportions, unfortunately because of things that have happened like haboobs, that we don't have any control over," he said.
In 2010, there were 11,888 cases of valley fever across the state.
In 2011, there were 16,472 cases of falley fever across the state
That's an increase of more than 4,500 cases.
The State Health Department said so far Arizona has had about 9,600 cases so far this year. The most affected areas are Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties.
"We haven't seen the correlation when we examine the data," said Dr. Cara Christ with the Arizona Department of Health Services.
She said it's more likely people will inhale the spores during a huge dust storm and that cases are always on the rise.
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