The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning Lightning in a Bottle attendees that they may have been exposed to a potentially deadly fungal infection.
Five people who attended the six-day festival at Buena Vista Lake in Bakersfield, California, from May 22-27 have been diagnosed with Valley fever, according to the CDPH. Three of those diagnosed were hospitalized, according to KTLA.
The respiratory infection, which is contracted by breathing in airborne spores of the coccidioides fungus when soil is disturbed, can cause symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, tiredness, and rashes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Not everyone who inhales the spores will become ill. However, the CDPH is encouraging any other attendees experiencing respiratory symptoms to contact a healthcare provider.
Valley fever is not contagious but can spread to other parts of the body and lead to serious complications in severe cases. According to state officials, roughly one in every 100 people who contract the disease die.
In a statement shared with EDM Maniac, Lightning in a Bottle organizers said, “The California health department has recently made us aware that they are expecting 7,000 to 9,000 cases of Valley fever across the state this year, with 5,400 already confirmed, signaling a large increase in 2024 cases due to wet weather.”
“This week they reported that five cases may have been linked to this year’s event as part of their California’s Valley fever Awareness Month campaign,” the festival continued. “We prioritize the health and safety of all our patrons and are in communication with the California Department of Public Health and Kern County Public Health Department to learn more about Valley fever and any preventative measures we can take to reduce Valley fever risk for future festival events, and to make information available to this year’s attendees.”
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, state officials say that due to climate change, the disease is increasingly expanding north from California’s lower San Joaquin Valley, where the spores are commonly found. Cases have grown from less than 1,500 in 2001 to more than 8,000 in 2021.
Antifungal medications are available to treat symptoms. However, there is no vaccine for Valley fever.
The CDPH is also encouraging festivalgoers to complete a voluntary survey here, even if they have no symptoms, to track the disease.
Featured image from Lightning in a Bottle. Credit: Sydnee Wilson.
