Officials on the lookout for 'valley fever' following outdoor music festival - The Weather Network
At least five cases of valley fever have been confirmed.
www.theweathernetwork.com
California health officials are on the lookout for cases of "valley fever" -- a non-contagious sickness with symptoms that include high temperature, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and chest pain.
Between May 22 and May 27, more than 20,000 people attended Lightning in a Bottle, an outdoor music festival at Buena Vista Lake.
Officials suspect concertgoers unwittingly kicked up Coccidioides fungus spores that grow in the dirt in parts of the state.
While most people exposed to the fungus won't get sick, it can infect the lungs and cause health issues, which can sometimes be severe. So far, at least five cases have been confirmed. Three patients required hospitalization.
Officials say valley fever is on the rise, with an unusually high number of cases reported in 2023 and 2024.
While most cases of valley fever have likely been accounted for, officials are keeping an eye out for people experiencing long-term or undiagnosed complications that may be associated with attending the festival.