PHOENIX (AZFamily) -- It's Valley Fever Awareness Week, and the Arizona Department of Health Services reports cases have increased this year.

According to its report, there have been 42% more cases this year than the average number of cases over the past five years. However, the department emphasizes that these numbers should not worry you.

Irene Ruberto, AZDHS Program Manager for animal, bug, and fungal diseases, said these trends should not worry you but rather raise awareness about talking to your doctor if you think you have symptoms.

"If you experience fever, exhaustion, cough, pneumonia, make sure you see your doctor and you mention to them valley fever," Ruberto explained.

Valley fever is a fungal infection, not contagious like the flu or COVID-19. The only way to contract it is to breathe in the fungal spores found in our desert soil.

Ruberto said her team is investigating several environmental factors that could be contributing to this increase. However, she said most people don't know to ask their doctor for a blood test if they have symptoms.

"There's a lot of factors in the environment that cause increase in disease including weather, rainfall," she explained. "In addition to the environment, there can be more awareness so healthcare providers can test more. A lot of doctors are not from here and so they're not aware and don't think about testing for it."

Not only is the blood test the only way to confirm a valley fever diagnosis, but Ruberto said its results help her team further research into why cases are rising.

So, if you feel like you're coming down with symptoms, Ruberto advises talking to your doctor, asking about valley fever, and getting a blood test to confirm the diagnosis.

Valley fever can get out of your system on its own in a few days. However, if symptoms linger on or worsen, antibiotics and further treatments can be prescribed.