According to the California Department of Public Health, Kern County has seen a spike in valley fever in the last three years. Doctors and researchers at Kern Medical are trying to learn more about the disease to reduce those numbers. Monday, the hospital announced a partnership with Duke University to conduct a valley fever research study. Last year, more than 2,000 cases of valley fever were reported in Kern County. Path to Full Story on 29 Eyewitness News