FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - If you live in the Central Valley, chances are, you know about, or have had valley fever. The CDC estimates that there are between 10 and 20,000 new cases of valley fever reported every year. But that number seems to be growing, and doctors are now encountering cases in regions not traditionally affected by valley fever.  Click here for more MedWatch Today Click here for Community Medical Center's homepage The CDC, in conjunction with infectious disease experts from Community Health System and UCSF, Fresno are closely monitoring the changes – and taking steps to help combat the problem. Dr. Geetha Sivasubramanian is a leading national expert in infectious diseases. When NBC News reported on more than a dozen people contracting valley fever while attending a music festival in Kern County, they turned to her expertise and experience. “Valley Fever is an infection caused by a fungus. This is a fungus that lives in the soil around us. So you inhale the fungus from the soil and it gets into your lungs,” she said. “In general, this fungus is called a shapeshifting fungus, because in the soil, it has a different form. And in the body, it has a different form." But that’s part of the problem, 60% percent of people who get valley fever may never even know they have had it. The concern is for the other 40%, they can have more compelling symptoms which can easily be misdiagnosed. “The most common misdiagnosis with valley fever is just spectrum pneumonia. So they often get diagnosed as pneumonia and get treated with antibiotics, and they don't get better despite the antibiotics. So if you have a persistent cough, that's not going away, you have to think, okay, this is probably not a bacterial pneumonia or a cold,” Sivasubramanian said. Scientists also say that valley fever is now being seen in places that don’t traditionally have cases. Cases are now being reported in Utah, Wyoming and even Canada.  There are several possible reasons for the spread, and while researchers study those factors, people like Sivasubramanian are looking for practical steps that can be taken. “If you work with dry soil and you dig with dry soil, it's important that you wet the soil before you start digging. You can reduce the risk of the dispersion of the spores pretty significantly,” she said.  Wearing a mask is another easy protection. But beyond that, physicians want better equipment, and to increase awareness. “We need more point-of-care testing, and if you go to a doctor, people need to think about Valley Fever as a possible cause. Doctors need to think about it. Employers need to think about it so that they can counsel their workers and give them the appropriate measures they need to protect themselves,” she said. For additional details and information on valley fever, click here.