A “deadly” viral fungus outbreak that occurred during California’s Lightning In A Bottle festival has caused three individuals to be hospitalized, according to the LA Times. The event took place between May 22 and 27, with an estimated attendance of about 20,000 people. Lightning In A Bottle recently warned attendees that they might have been exposed to a life-threatening fungus known as “valley fever,” which is predicted to infect between 7,000 and 9,000 individuals in California this year.
California and Arizona are the states that experience most cases of valley fever, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Among the regions with the highest prevalence of cases is Kern County, where Lightning In A Bottle was held. The CDPH revealed that the fungus grows in the soil and dirt in certain areas and could be potentially deadly after infection. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports roughly 200 valley fever-linked fatalities per year.
In a statement, the event’s organizers stated that the company prioritized “the health and safety of all our patrons” and is currently partnering with the CDPH and Kern County Public Health Department in aiding to learn about valley fever and any measures that can be adopted for future events. Symptoms of valley fever include fever, a cough, headache, rashes, a loss of appetite, and shortness of breath.
Lightning In A Bottle is known for bringing together fearless genre explorers, according to Mixmag, with the lightning in a bottle. A heavenly melting pot being one of their previous articles on the festival. Since this isn’t the first outbreak of the fungus in Kern County, it is anything but a surprise. However, the companies taking reasonable measures in preventing such instances in the future is a positive aspect nonetheless
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More
