Pageant-goers, beware: California well being officers are warning that hundreds who attended a preferred outside music pageant might have been uncovered to a harmful and probably lethal fungus.
The California Division of Public Well being (CDPH) on Monday launched an announcement warning that instances of Valley fever are linked to the Lightning in a Bottle pageant, which happened at Buena Vista Lake, Calif., from Could 21 to 25.
The digital music pageant, held round 170 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles, featured artists comparable to Fatboy Slim, Skrillex, M.I.A. and James Blake.
Greater than 20,000 individuals from a number of California counties and presumably from different states and international locations attended the pageant, well being officers mentioned. So far, CDPH has recognized 5 sufferers with Valley fever who attended the pageant; three have been hospitalized. Further instances linked to the pageant are attainable.
“Valley fever is an infectious disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of California,” CDPH mentioned.
“While most people exposed to this fungus do not develop Valley fever, the fungus can infect the lungs and cause respiratory symptoms, including cough, difficulty breathing, fever, and tiredness or fatigue. In rare cases, the Valley fever fungus can spread to other parts of the body and cause severe disease.”
Underneath a magnification of a hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue part, revealed histopathologic adjustments related to a case of coccidioidomycosis, often known as valley fever. On this view, a variety of sporangia could possibly be seen contained in the confines of a lymph node.
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Valley fever is attributable to inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus, that are launched into the air when soil is disturbed. This an infection, primarily present in Arizona and California, is just not contagious, that means it can’t be transmitted from individual to individual, well being officers mentioned.
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“Past outbreaks of Valley fever have been associated with exposure to dust and dirt at outdoor events and job sites where dirt was being disturbed in areas of California where Valley fever is common,” the assertion learn.
Whereas the occasion occurred two months in the past and gentle instances of Valley fever may need already resolved, different sufferers with extra long-term or extreme illness should be symptomatic or undiagnosed, the CDPH warned.
Well being officers advise anybody who attended the music pageant or visited the world and is experiencing respiratory an infection signs that haven’t improved or are lasting longer than every week to go to a health-care supplier and ask about attainable Valley fever.
Respiratory an infection signs embody cough, fever, fatigue, issue respiratory, and chest ache. If it applies to you, make sure to point out whether or not you attended the music pageant or travelled to Kern County, the place Valley fever is widespread.
In an e-mail to International Information Wednesday, a Lightning in a Bottle spokesperson mentioned, “The California health department has recently made us aware that they are expecting 7,000-9,000 cases of Valley fever across the state this year, with 5,400 already confirmed, signaling a large increase in 2024 cases due to wet weather.”
This week they reported that 5 instances might have been linked to this yr’s occasion as a part of their California’s Valley fever Consciousness Month marketing campaign. We prioritize the well being and security of all our patrons and are in communication with the California Division of Public Well being and Kern County Public Well being Division to study extra about Valley fever and any preventative measures we are able to take to cut back Valley fever danger for future pageant occasions, and to make info accessible to this yr’s attendees,” the spokesperson added.
