An outbreak of a “deadly” viral fungus has resulted in three people being admitted to a hospital following this year’s Lightning In A Bottle festival in California. The festival released a statement saying attendees may have been exposed to a dangerous fungus that is anticipated to infect between 7,000 and 9,000 individuals in California this year. The virus is known to cause a number of symptoms such as rashes, cough, headaches, a loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. Earlier this summer, between May 22 to 27, the festival took place, and it was attended by about 20,000 individuals.
According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the infection rate for the fungus was high in Kern County where the festival was occurring. The CDPH claimed that the fungus is present in soil and dirt and can potentially be lethal following infection. Every year, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 200 deaths connected to this fungus.
The festival issued a statement to the LA Times earlier this week regarding the situation. They said the cases of valley fever in California have already reached 5,400, indicating a significant increase in 2024 instances due to wet weather. The festival added that it prioritizes “the health and safety of all our patrons” and is now working with the CDPH and its local Public Health Department to “learn more about valley fever.”
Pre-sales for the 2025 edition of the Lightning In A Bottle festival have already sold out. The previous year’s edition featured appearances by Skrillex, James Blake, M.I.A., Fatboy Slim, and others. Earlier this year, another music festival, the Fort Rock Festival in Florida, was shut down due to a potential virus outbreak
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