A 37-year-old Indian tech professional in California has died after battling Valley Fever, a rare fungal infection that severely affected his lungs and led to respiratory failure, according to a fundraiser set up by his family.
Chiranjeevi Kolla died on May 5 in Walnut Creek, California, after spending nearly a month in intensive care, his cousin Rama Koteswara Rao said in a GoFundMe post created to support Kolla’s wife Pavani Marella and their five-year-old son, Vihan.
The fundraiser described Kolla as a soft-spoken and dedicated family man who was deeply respected by colleagues and loved by friends and relatives. “He was the kind of person who never raised his voice, never cut a corner, and never made anyone feel small,” the post read.
According to the family, Kolla first developed what appeared to be a regular flu and persistent cough in early April. As his condition worsened, he went to the emergency room, where doctors initially suspected severe pneumonia. Tests later confirmed that he had contracted Valley Fever, a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides fungi found in soil in parts of California and the southwestern United States.
The infection reportedly overwhelmed his lungs, and he was later placed on a ventilator in the ICU. After around 30 days of treatment and respiratory support, he died on May 5.
The fundraiser said his wife remained by his side throughout his hospital stay while trying to comfort their young son, who “kept asking when his father was coming home.”
Kolla was the primary earning member of the family, and the fundraiser aims to help cover hospital expenses, funeral rites in California and India, daily living costs, childcare, and future education expenses for his son.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Chiranjeevi Kolla’s LinkedIn profile, he worked in the healthcare technology sector and was based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
WHAT IS VALLEY FEVER?
Valley Fever, medically known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus, which is commonly found in dry soil in parts of California, Arizona, and other southwestern regions of the United States.
Most people exposed to the fungus either show mild flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, in some cases, particularly when the infection spreads to the lungs, it can become severe and life-threatening. Symptoms can include cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue, and breathing difficulties.
Health experts say severe infections are relatively uncommon, but people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions may face a higher risk of complications.
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