Fungal disease sickened 5 at California festival, officials say. What is Valley fever?

A disease that is contracted from ground-dwelling fungus has sickened at least five people following an outdoor music festival, California state officials say.

Lightning in a Bottle, a massive six-day event, drew more than 20,000 attendees to Buena Vista Lake in California this May.

After the event, five festivalgoers came down with Valley fever, California health officials said in a July 29 news release. Valley fever is an infectious disease caused by Coccidioides fungus, an organism that grows in the dirt and soil in some parts of California.

Of the five identified with Valley fever, three have been hospitalized.

Officials say there may be more people who were infected.

Valley fever is primarily contracted via contact with the fungus. According to the California Department of Public Health, past outbreaks usually occurred when an outdoor event or construction job disrupted the dirt in an area where the fungus was present. It is not contagious between humans and animals.

Symptoms of Valley fever include “cough, fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing and chest pain,” officials said.

Health officials are encouraging people who attended the festival or visited Kern County to see a healthcare provider if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms lasting longer than a week.

“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,” Lightning in a Bottle representatives told McClatchy News in a statement.

This is the second year in a row in which cases of Valley fever have been high in California.

Spikes have been “most common in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast areas of California,” officials said.

Officials urge attendees of the festival or anyone who is concerned to visit the CDPH Valley fever survey website for more information about Valley fever.

This story was originally published July 31, 2024 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Fungal disease sickened 5 at California festival, officials say. What is Valley fever?."