admin Festival-goers, take note: California health officials are cautioning that thousands who attended a popular outdoor music festival may have been exposed to a dangerous and potentially deadly fungus.
On Monday, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a statement warning that cases of Valley fever have been linked to the Lightning in a Bottle festival, held at Buena Vista Lake, California, from 21 to 25 May.
The electronic music festival, located around 170 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles, featured artists such as Fatboy Slim, Skrillex, M.I.A., and James Blake.
According to health officials, more than 20,000 people from several California counties, as well as potentially from other states and countries, attended the festival. To date, CDPH has identified five patients with Valley fever who attended the event; three of them were hospitalised. Additional cases linked to the festival are possible.
“Valley fever is an infectious disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of California,” CDPH said.
“While most people exposed to this fungus do not develop Valley fever, the fungus can infect the lungs and cause respiratory symptoms, including cough, difficulty breathing, fever, and tiredness or fatigue. In rare cases, the Valley fever fungus can spread to other parts of the body and cause severe disease.”
Valley fever is caused by inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus, which are released into the air when soil is disturbed. Health officials explained that this infection, primarily found in Arizona and California, is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
“Past outbreaks of Valley fever have been associated with exposure to dust and dirt at outdoor events and job sites where dirt was being disturbed in areas of California where Valley fever is common,” the statement read.
The CDPH warned that, although the event took place two months ago and mild cases of Valley fever may have already resolved, other patients with more long-term or severe disease might still be symptomatic or undiagnosed.
Health officials are advising anyone who attended the music festival or visited the area and is experiencing respiratory symptoms that have not improved or are lasting longer than a week to visit a healthcare provider and inquire about the possibility of Valley fever.
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