So far, five patients who attended the Lightning in a Bottle music festival have been diagnosed with the infection.
Dozens of people have contracted valley fever following an outdoor music festival near Bakersfield, California, according to a statement from the state Department of Public Health. Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a lung infection caused by inhaling a soil-borne fungus, found specifically in California and some other parts of the southwestern U.S., including Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. However, it is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person or animal to another.
According to authorities, so far, five patients who attended the Lightning in a Bottle music festival have been diagnosed with the infection. Three of them have been hospitalized. Official data indicates that more than 20,000 people attended the festival at Buena Vista Lake.
What is valley fever??
“People who live in or travel to the Central Valley or Central Coast regions of California may be at increased risk for valley fever during the fall,” the department warned. According to statistics, compared to the more than 9,000 cases reported statewide in 2023, more than 5,000 preliminary cases have already been reported this year as of July 1, the department reported.
Valley fever or cocovirus severely infects the lungs and causes a variety of respiratory symptoms, some of which can even be fatal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of cases of Valley Fever go unreported and many are never diagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Researchers say they recently discovered that dry seasons and climate change play a major role in increasing the risk of infection.
Infection increases during the rainy season and is low during dry periods, according to the study recently published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas Journal.
Signs and symptoms of valley fever
According to experts, Valley fever usually begins with mild symptoms similar to the flu or COVID-19, including:
- High fever
- Cold
- Body aches
- Cough
- Eruptions
- Headaches
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
According to doctors, symptoms of valley fever appear at least one to three weeks after inhaling the fungus spores. Although some people recover on their own, in up to 10 percent of cases, dangerous complications can develop.
According to the California Department of Public Health, certain factors can increase your chances of getting a severe case, such as being 60 or older, having diabetes or a disease that weakens your immune system, or being pregnant. The CDC says at least 40 percent of people who get infected will also likely develop long-term respiratory problems.
Cases are increasing every year in California
According to the CDC, valley fever cases have tripled between 2014 and 2022 in California, where there are 7,000 to 9,000 cases a year. It is most common in the San Joaquin Valley and areas of the Central Coast. Certain areas with high dust exposure pose a higher risk, including places where construction, archaeology, agriculture or military training are done, according to the CDC.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.