Indian Techie, 37, Dies In California After Rare Valley Fever Infection Attacks Lungs

Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Indian technology professional in California, has died after a month-long fight with Valley fever, a fungal infection that can begin with ordinary flu-like symptoms but, in rare cases, can severely damage the lungs.

Kolla passed away on May 5, according to a family fundraiser created by his cousin, Rama Koteswara Rao. He is survived by his wife, Pavani Marella, and their five-year-old son, Vihan.

What began in April as what looked like a routine seasonal illness soon turned into a medical emergency. The fundraiser said Kolla initially developed symptoms similar to the flu. As his condition worsened, he went to an emergency room, where doctors first suspected severe pneumonia.

Further testing later confirmed that he had Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis. The infection is caused by breathing in microscopic spores of the Coccidioides fungus, which lives in soil in parts of California and other dry regions of the southwestern United States.

In Kolla’s case, the illness progressed aggressively. His lungs were overwhelmed, and doctors placed him on a ventilator after intubation. He remained hospitalised for about 30 days while his family waited for signs of recovery.

The fundraiser described the family’s final weeks in heartbreaking detail, saying Pavani stayed beside him in the ICU, holding his hand and speaking to him while their young son kept asking when his father would come home. After weeks of machines, monitors and medical care, Kolla could not recover.

His death has left the family facing not only grief but also major financial pressure. The fundraiser said Pavani is now dealing with ICU bills, mortgage payments, daily expenses and funeral arrangements planned in both California and India.

Why Valley Fever Can Be Hard To Detect Early

Valley fever often creates confusion because its early symptoms can look like flu, COVID-19, bronchitis or pneumonia. Patients may experience fever, cough, chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle aches and joint pain.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many people who inhale the fungus never develop symptoms, while others recover without major complications. However, some infections can become serious, particularly when the lungs are heavily affected or when the disease spreads beyond the lungs.

The fungus does not spread from person to person. People usually become infected after soil is disturbed by wind, construction, farming or other outdoor activity, allowing spores to become airborne and enter the lungs when inhaled.

California has long been one of the regions where Valley fever is reported, especially in dry and dusty areas. Public health experts have warned that people living in or travelling through affected regions should pay attention to respiratory symptoms that do not improve as expected.

Kolla’s case shows how quickly a condition that appears mild in the beginning can become life-threatening. The family’s fundraiser noted that many people exposed to Valley fever may never know they had it, but for him, the infection attacked his lungs with devastating force.

For the Indian community in California and beyond, the story has become both a personal tragedy and a reminder of a disease many people outside the US Southwest know little about. Kolla was described by his family as the emotional and financial support of his household, making his sudden death even more painful for his wife and young son.

The case also highlights the importance of seeking medical care when flu-like symptoms persist, breathing becomes difficult or pneumonia-like symptoms worsen despite treatment. Early diagnosis can help doctors decide whether antifungal treatment or closer monitoring is needed.

Similar rare and severe medical cases have previously raised concern over how quickly familiar symptoms can turn dangerous. Swikblog recently reported on another case involving a teenager whose flu symptoms led to life-changing complications: Texas Teen Loses 3 Limbs After Flu Turns Deadly.

While most Valley fever cases are not fatal, Kolla’s death has brought renewed attention to the illness, its symptoms and the need for awareness in areas where the fungus is present in the soil.

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