California Health Officials Warn of Valley Fever Risk Following Music Festival Outbreak
California health officials are sounding the alarm after nearly 20 cases of Valley fever were identified in connection with a summer music festival. With the risk of this fungal infection reportedly increasing in the late summer and early fall, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging residents to familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of the disease.
“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 to detect it early,” stated Dr. Tomás Aragón, the CDPH director and state public health officer. “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.”
According to the CDPH, both people and pets can contract Valley fever by inhaling fungal spores present in dust. This infection predominantly occurs in the southwestern United States and certain areas of Washington State, as noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person. Symptoms can take one to three weeks to appear and may include cough, chest pain, headache, and fatigue. The illness can last for at least a month.
In rare cases, the infection can progress from the lungs to the brain, spinal cord, skin, or bones and joints, as highlighted by the CDC. Health care providers can confirm the disease through blood samples or skin tests.
The situation is becoming increasingly concerning, with the California state health department reporting over 9,000 cases of Valley fever in 2023, and more than 5,000 preliminary cases identified by July 1, 2024.
Among the recent outbreak, 19 cases were reported among attendees and workers at the Lightning in a Bottle music festival in Kern County in May, with eight individuals requiring hospitalization, per the CDPH’s report.
The health department stated, “Possible causes of this recent increase include winter rains after several years of drought, an increase in soil disturbance activities (including construction) in high-risk areas, and increased disease recognition, testing and reporting. In addition, while most cases of Valley fever in California are reported from the Central Valley and Central Coast regions, cases have been increasing outside of these regions, including in the northern Central Valley and in southern California.”
A recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health, The Americas indicated that climate change may be influencing case rates and seasonal infection patterns. The researchers investigated Valley fever occurrences in 17 California counties from 2000 to 2021 and found the highest exposure to the fungus occurs between July and September, with the lowest rates noted from February to April.
"California has a distinct dry season (April–October) and wet season (November–March) each year, and our results show that coccidioidomycosis seasonal peaks occur most often at the end of the dry season," the researchers noted. "Anomalously wet conditions in the prior wet season as well as anomalously dry conditions during the concurrent dry season are associated with more pronounced seasonal peaks in incidence."
The findings aim to inform public health messaging regarding when to avoid particularly dusty environments and dust-generating activities. The study suggests that, when exposure to dust is unavoidable, dust suppression techniques, such as wetting soil before disturbing it, can be beneficial. Additionally, the use of N95 masks is recommended to prevent inhalation of fungal spores.