Authorities are investigating a potential outbreak of Valley fever at the Lightning in a Bottle music festival in California, potentially affecting over 20,000 attendees. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently looking into five reported cases of Valley fever among festival-goers who traveled through Kern County to attend the event at Buena Vista Lake, near Bakersfield.

Reports indicate that three people have already been hospitalized due to the illness, but CDPH warned that additional cases linked to attendance at the festival may surface. Valley fever, caused by the Coccidioides fungus found in the soil and dirt across certain parts of California, presents symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Although it is not contagious and cannot spread from human to human, the disease can be severe in individuals with compromised immune systems.

Dr. Brad Perkins, the chief medical officer at Karius, a company specializing in advanced diagnostics for infectious diseases, emphasized that while Valley fever can have devastating effects on those with immunocompromising illnesses, such cases are fortunately rare. He urged Lightning in a Bottle attendees to share details of any illnesses they experience on the CDPH Valley fever survey website.

Valley fever outbreaks have been associated in the past with dust and dirt inhalation at outdoor events held in areas where the disease is prevalent. The CDPH advises that although most people exposed to the fungus do not develop the illness, it can infect the lungs and lead to respiratory symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, fever, and fatigue.

With about 200 deaths per year attributed to Valley fever, health authorities are working diligently to assess the situation at the festival. The CDPH is urging anyone who attended Lightning in a Bottle and experienced any potential symptoms to promptly seek medical attention and report their illness to the survey website.

As investigations continue to unfold, concerns are growing over the potential scale of the outbreak and its impact on festival attendees. It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and informed about the symptoms of Valley fever, especially those who attended the music festival, and for health officials to swiftly address the situation to prevent further spread of the dangerous fungal illness.