Chiranjeevi Kolla, 37, Dies After Rare Severe Case Of Valley Fever In CA

India-West News Desk

WALNUT CREEK, CA – What began as mild, flu-like symptoms in early April turned fatal within weeks for Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Walnut Creek resident who died May 5 after a prolonged battle with Valley Fever and respiratory failure.

Kolla, the primary provider for his family, spent nearly a month in intensive care at Kaiser Permanente, where he was placed on a ventilator as doctors worked to stabilize his condition. Initially suspected to be severe pneumonia, his illness was later confirmed as Valley Fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus found in soil across parts of California and the American Southwest.

While many infected individuals experience mild or no symptoms, Kolla’s case turned critical as the infection caused extensive damage to his lungs. Despite aggressive treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate.

“The doctors had done all that medicine could do,” said Rama Koteswara Rao, Kolla’s cousin, who is representing the family. “After thirty long days of machines and monitors and prayers, his exhausted body could fight no longer.”

Kolla is survived by his wife, Pavani Marella, and their 5-year-old son, Vihan. His death has left the family grappling not only with grief but also mounting financial challenges, including medical expenses from his extended ICU stay and ongoing household needs.

Rao described Kolla as a man defined by quiet strength and integrity. “He was the kind of person who never raised his voice, never cut a corner, and never made anyone feel small,” he said.

According to his professional profile, Kolla worked in the healthcare technology sector in the San Francisco Bay Area, building a career while supporting his young family.

The family plans to hold final rites in both California and India. With Marella’s consent, relatives have organized a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs, medical bills, and to establish future support for their son, including a college fund in Kolla’s memory: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-chiranjeevi-kolla-for-pavani-vihan-46ema

“Chiranjeevi would have been quietly, deeply moved by this,” Rao said. “He never asked for anything for himself.”

Medically known as coccidioidomycosis, Valley Fever is contracted by inhaling airborne fungal spores commonly present in dry, dusty soil. Though most cases resolve on their own or with minimal treatment, severe infections can lead to complications in the lungs and, in rare cases, become life-threatening.