UPDATED with Statement from LIB
Lightning In A Bottle has quickly become one of the best festivals in the U.S. What started as a boutique festival has grown to have more than 20,000 people attend. Many compare it to Shambhala with its laidback forest vibes and fantastic music selection.
Unfortunately, this year’s edition which occurred back in May exposed its attendees to a life-threatening fungus. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said it is investigating a cluster of Valley Fever cases identified among attendees of the music festival Lightning in a Bottle in Buena Vista Lake. Five have been diagnosed with Valley Fever. Three of the infected have been hospitalized. The department stated:
“Overall, cases of Valley fever in California have increased substantially over the last two years, so CDPH is asking attendees of this festival to complete a voluntary survey, even if they don’t have any symptoms.”
It is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, which releases spores into the air when soil is disturbed and then are inhaled by people. There is no person-to-person transmission. One user took to Reddit to describe his symptoms. He was hospitalized with a severe lung infection and experienced fevers, aches, and a cough. It also caused a cavity (a hole) to form inside his right lung.
Most people with the mild form of Valley Fever will not realize they have the illness because of its symptoms — fatigue, cough, fever, aching muscles, and breathlessness. It mimics a respiratory virus infection. If it infects the membranes and fluid around the brain it can cause life-threatening meningitis.
There is no proven treatment for Valley Fever and patients are usually prescribed rest and given therapies to manage symptoms. It remains unclear if Lightning In A Bottle will relocate if the problem becomes worse in the future.
Later in the day, LIB issued the following statement concerning the situation:
The California health department has recently made us aware that they are expecting 7000-9000 cases of Valley fever across the state this year, with 5400 already confirmed, signaling a large increase in 2024 cases due to wet weather.
Lightning in a Bottle
This week they reported that 5 cases may have been linked to this year’s event as part of their California’s Valley fever Awareness Month campaign.
We prioritize the health and safety of all our patrons and are in communication with the California Department of Public Health and Kern County Public Health Department to learn more about Valley fever and any preventative measures we can take to reduce Valley fever risk for future festival events, and to make information available to this year’s attendees.