At least 19 people contract fungal infection after California music festival, officials say
At least 19 people have contracted Valley fever, a fungal infection that can be fatal in rare cases, after attending an outdoor music festival in Southern California in May, health officials said.
The number of illnesses linked to the five-day Lightning in a Bottle event has nearly quadrupled in the past month. Valley fever is caused by inhaling Coccidioidsa fungus endemic to the soils of the southwestern United States. New research shows that the number of cases of the disease has increased dramatically in recent years.
It usually manifests as a mild respiratory illness: most people do not get sick after exposure. However, a small percentage of those infected can develop serious, debilitating, or long-term problems.
More than 20,000 people attended Lightning in a Bottle, an electronic dance music festival, in Kern County between May 22 and May 27, the California Department of Public Health said. Nineteen people confirmed their diagnosis of the illness through a voluntary survey, including eight who were hospitalized, the CDPH said in a statement last month.
Valley fever has been on the rise in California for years, especially in the central part of the state, as the climate crisis has made the landscape drier and hotter — conditions the fungus prefers.
Between March 2000 and February 2021, 89,281 cases were reported in 17 provinces, a study published this year. There were 12 times as many incidents in the state’s counties in 2018 than in 2000, the study found. Since 2014 alone, the number of reported cases has nearly doubled in the U.S. and more than tripled in California.
More than 9,000 cases were reported in the state last year, and more than 5,000 preliminary cases are expected through July 2024, the CDPH reported. The state public health department said the increase can be attributed to winter rains after years of drought, increased detection and testing for the disease, and more “soil disturbance activities” in high-risk areas.
Coccidioids grows in the ground, but if disturbed can become airborne and travel for miles.
Most people don’t get sick after exposure to the fungus, but for those who do, experts have said it’s likely that few will actually receive a diagnosis of Valley fever. Of those infected, about 40% develop a respiratory illness that can be mild, while 1% have more severe outcomes, The Guardian reported in 2022.
The California Department of Public Health warns that the Central Valley and Central Coast are at increased risk for valley fever in the fall.
“We are preparing for a potential increase in Valley fever cases in the coming months, and we want Californians to know the signs and symptoms to detect it early,” Dr. Tomás Aragón, the state’s public health officer, said in a statement. “If you have a persistent cough and fatigue, talk to your doctor about Valley fever, especially if you have been outdoors in the dusty air of the Central Valley or Central Coast regions.”