From the heated debates over the airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus to the abrupt Earth system changes caused by the sudden lockdowns, the dire circumstances resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought the field of GeoHealth to the forefront of visibility in science and policy. The pandemic has inadvertently provided an opportunity to study how human response has impacted the Earth system, how the Earth system may impact the pandemic, and the capacity of GeoHealth to inform real-time policy. The lessons learned throughout our responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are shaping the future of GeoHealth.

Inspired by Comrie (2021), we discuss a few issues related to dust storms and Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever). There is inconsistency in the term “dust storm” as used by science communities, and the dust data from NOAA Storm Events Database are from diverse sources, unsuitable for assessing dust-Coccidioidomycosis relationships. Population exposure to dust or Coccidioides needs to consider the frequency, magnitude, duration, and spatial coverage of dust events. Given abundant evidence that dust storms are a viable driver to transport Coccidioides, it is in best public interest to advocate that dust storms may put people at risk for contracting Valley fever.