Public health officials say at least 19 People contracted Valley Fever after the Southern California Music Festival. The number of illnesses related to the five-day Lightning in a Bottle event has nearly doubled in the previous month. Inhaling Coccidioides, a fungus found only in the soil of the Southwest United States, causes valley fever. According to new studies, the illness’s prevalence has increased considerably in recent years. It usually manifests as a mild respiratory infection; most individuals do not feel ill after being exposed, but a tiny percentage of those infected can have acute, debilitating, or long-term complications.

According to the California Department of Public Health, more than 20,000 people attended Lightning in a Bottle, an electronic dance music festival held in Kern County from May 22 to 27. The CDPH reported last month that 19 people contracted Valley Fever after the Southern California Music Festival as a result of a voluntary survey, eight of whom were hospitalised.

Valley fever has been on the rise in California for years, particularly in the state’s central region. The climate crisis has made the landscape drier and hotter, which is ideal for the fungus.

A study published this year found that between March 2000 and February 2021, 89,281 instances were registered in 17 counties. According to the survey, there were 12 times more incidences across the state’s counties in 2018 than in 2000. Since 2014, reported cases in the United States have nearly doubled, while in California, they have more than tripled.

According to the CDPH, more than 9,000 instances were recorded in the state last year, with more than 5,000 preliminary cases reported by July 2024. The state public health department ascribed the surge to winter rains after years of drought, improved detection and testing for the disease, and more “soil disturbance activities” in high-risk locations.

Coccidioides grow in dirt, but they can become airborne and travel for miles when disturbed.

Most people do not fall ill due to their exposure to the fungus, but specialists believe that very few of those who do will be diagnosed with valley fever. According to the Guardian, approximately 40% of individuals infected have a minor respiratory disease, while 1% experience more severe effects.

The California Department of Public Health cautions that the Central Valley and Central Coast may face an increased risk of valley fever this autumn.

“We’re preparing for another possible increase in valley fever cases in the coming months, and we want Californians to know the signs and symptoms so they can detect it early,” Dr. Tomás Aragón, the state’s public health officer, said in a statement. “If you have a lingering cough and fatigue, please talk to a doctor about valley fever, especially if you’ve been outdoors in dusty air in the Central Valley or Central Coast regions.”

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