Health
Valley Fever outbreak reported after California music festival as health officials cite 'hotspot'
Several people have contracted Valley fever following an outdoor music festival near Bakersfield, California, according to a statement from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is a lung infection caused by breathing in a soil-borne fungus found in California and some parts of the southwestern U.S.
So far, five patients who attended the outdoor music festival, Lightning in a Bottle, have been diagnosed with the infection. Three of those have been hospitalized, the CDPH reported.
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More than 20,000 people attended the festival, held from May 22 to May 27 at Buena Vista Lake.
There is the potential for additional cases to emerge among festival-goers, health officials said.
Several people have contracted Valley fever following an outdoor music festival near Bakersfield, California (not pictured). (iStock)
For those who attended the festival or visited Kern County and are experiencing symptoms, the CDPH recommends they see a doctor and ask about testing for the infection.
“While the event occurred two months ago and mild cases of Valley fever might have already resolved, other patients with more long-term or severe disease may still be symptomatic or undiagnosed,” the CDPH stated.
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Tom Langdon Hill, director of training for the CCHS Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, which offers free training regarding the medical needs of the homeless, said it is “desperately difficult” to predict when and where someone may be exposed to Valley Fever.
“However, the outbreak tied to the outdoor music festival, Lightning in a Bottle, happened in an area already known as a Valley Fever hotspot, with 34 deaths tallied in 2022 alone,” Hill told Fox News Digital.
Symptoms typically include cough, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing and chest pain. They usually begin within one to three weeks of infection. (iStock)
“While exposure to dust may be the cause of that outbreak, a just-released study points to wildfires as another possible source for the spread of Valley Fever.”
Symptoms and transmission
The majority of people who are exposed to the fungus do not get sick, but about 40% will develop respiratory symptoms, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms typically include cough, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing and chest pain. They usually begin within one to three weeks of infection.
From 2018 to 2022, California recorded between 7,000 and 9,000 cases of Valley fever each year.
Approximately 5% to 10% of people with Valley fever will develop complications, which can include serious lung problems, the CDC stated.
For around 1% of people, disseminated disease can occur, which is when the infection spreads to other parts of the body, such as the skin, joints, bones or brain.
The infection does not spread from person to person or between people and animals, the CDC said.
While there is not yet a vaccine for Valley fever, three vaccines are currently in development. (iStock)
Valley fever has been increasing in prevalence in California, the health department noted.
Cases tripled between 2014 and 2018. From 2018 to 2022, the state recorded between 7,000 and 9,000 cases per year.
It is most common in the San Joaquin Valley and in the Central Coast areas.
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Certain areas with high dust exposure present a greater risk. Those include places where construction, archaeology, farming or military training occur, per the CDC.
Homeless populations are also at a higher risk, according to Hill.
Homeless populations are also at a higher risk for Valley fever, according to experts. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“The homeless spend much more of their time exposed to dust and the smoke from wildfires,” Hill told Fox News Digital.
“It is no surprise that those on the streets have both higher rates of Valley fever and a startlingly higher rate of deadly complications from the disease.”
Is a nationwide spread possible?
Dr. George Thompson, a professor at UC Davis Health and co-director of the Center for Valley fever in Sacramento, told Fox News Digital in 2023 about a ramp-up in cases over the past several years.
“We have seen a gradual increase in cases over the last five years, and a greater number of patients are coming into our clinic for diagnosis and treatment,” he said at the time.
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In 2019, a study by Morgan Gorris — which was published in GeoHealth, a journal focused on environmental and health sciences research — suggested that climate change could trigger an expansion of Valley fever into northwestern states, including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.
“At first, I was skeptical,” said Dr. Thompson of California. “But I’ve recently heard about new cases emerging in Nebraska and even Missouri, so I think it’s in the realm of possibility.”
Certain areas with high dust exposure present a greater risk. Those include places where construction, archaeology, farming or military training occur, per the CDC. (iStock)
Valley fever cases are expected to arrive in northern Utah and eastern Colorado by 2035, according to the study. Gorris, the study’s author, also predicts that the disease will become endemic in Nebraska, southeastern Montana, southern Idaho and South Dakota by 2065, and that it could arrive in northern Montana and North Dakota by 2095.
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Other research has linked the rising Valley fever cases to an increase in dust storms. Another recent GeoHealth study by Daniel Q. Tong, a scientist and professor at George Mason University in Virginia, found that dust storms in the Southwest have risen by 240% between the 1990s and 2000s, followed by an 800% spike in Valley fever cases between 2001 and 2011.
Treatment and prevention
A blood test sent to a lab can confirm a current or prior infection of Valley fever, and a chest X-ray or CT scan can detect cases of pneumonia, according to the CDC.
Antifungal medications such as Fluconazole and Itraconazole are typically used to treat Valley fever. (iStock)
Antifungal medications such as Fluconazole and Itraconazole are typically used to treat Valley fever.
While there is not yet a vaccine for Valley fever, three vaccines are currently in development, including one that has been successfully tested with dogs.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, recently announced $4.5 million in funding to support research toward diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for the disease.
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The CDC notes that certain groups are more vulnerable.
These include people 60 years of age and older; those who have weakened immune systems as a result of certain diseases or medical conditions; pregnant women; people with diabetes; and people who are Black or Filipino.
Certain groups are more vulnerable, including people 60 years of age and older, or those who have weakened immune systems as a result of certain diseases or medical conditions. (iStock)
For those in high-risk groups, doctors recommend avoiding construction sites or areas where soil is often stirred up into the air.
People can also wear an N95 respirator, a type of high-quality mask, to minimize exposure in dusty areas.
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Early diagnosis and treatment is important, doctors advise.
Fox News Digital reached out to the CDPH and the organizers of the music festival for comment.
Health
4 Mistakes People Make When Starting a GLP-1 That Can Stall Weight Loss—Plus How to Maximize Your Results
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With an aggressive new strain spreading across the country, this year’s flu season has been marked by record-high hospitalizations and reportedly intense symptoms.
As people look for ways to contain the spread, new research has found that a few simple factors can greatly reduce transmission.
Researchers from the University of Maryland Schools of Public Health and Engineering in College Park and the School of Medicine in Baltimore studied influenza spread by placing flu-positive college students in a hotel room with healthy middle-aged adult volunteers.
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The study, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, is reportedly the first clinical trial investigating how the flu spreads from naturally infected people to uninfected people, according to a press release.
The participants, including 11 healthy volunteers, lived on a quarantined floor of a Baltimore-area hotel for two weeks. During that time, they simulated interactions, including having conversations, doing physical activities like yoga, and passing around objects like pens and tablets from infected people to the rest of the group.
New research has experts questioning how the flu spreads through airborne transmission. (iStock)
Researchers monitored the participant’s symptoms, performed daily nasal swabs, and collected saliva and blood samples to test for antibodies, the release stated.
The study also measured the “viral exposure” in the volunteers’ breathing air and ambient air in the activity room. The exhaled breath of the participants was measured by a machine called the Gesundheit II, invented by researcher Dr. Donald Milton and colleagues at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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At the end of the experiment, none of the healthy individuals had become infected with the flu due to a variety of factors. This included a lack of coughing, as the infected students were holding “a lot of virus in their noses” and only small amounts were “expelled into the air,” the researchers noted.
Researchers said proper ventilation was a major factor in halting flu spread in this study. (iStock)
“Our data suggests key things that increase the likelihood of flu transmission — coughing is a major one,” Dr. Jianyu Lai, post-doctoral research scientist and the study’s lead data analyst and report writer, shared in a statement.
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The other factor was ventilation and air movement, as the air in the study room was “continually mixed rapidly by a heater and dehumidifier, and so the small amounts of virus in the air were diluted,” Lai pointed out.
The researcher added that middle-aged adults are “usually less susceptible” to influenza than younger adults.
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Most researchers assume that airborne transmission is a major factor of disease spread, according to Dr. Donald Milton, professor at SPH’s Department of Global, Environmental and Occupational Health and a global infectious disease aerobiology expert.
“At this time of year, it seems like everyone is catching the flu virus, and yet our study showed no transmission,” he said in the same press release. “What does this say about how flu spreads and how to stop outbreaks?”
There have been 81,000 flu-related hospitalizations and more than 3,000 deaths in the U.S. this year so far, data shows. (iStock)
Milton, who was reportedly among the first experts to identify how to stop the spread of COVID-19, noted that findings from these types of trials are essential to updating international infection-control guidelines.
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“Being up close, face-to-face with other people indoors where the air isn’t moving much, seems to be the most risky thing — and it’s something we all tend to do a lot,” he said.
“At this time of year, it seems like everyone is catching the flu virus, and yet our study showed no transmission.”
“Our results suggest that portable air purifiers that stir up the air, as well as clean it, could be a big help,” Milton suggested. “But if you are really close and someone is coughing, the best way to stay safe is to wear a mask, especially the N95.”
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Approximately 11 million flu illnesses and about 5,000 deaths have occurred so far in the 2025-2026 influenza season, according to CDC data. A large share of the current flu cases are caused by the new influenza A subclade K variant.
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GLP-1 has become a popular buzzword in the weight-loss community — but now some are touting “GLP-3s,” claiming they are taking obesity medications to the next level.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.
The informal term “GLP-3” refers to a new triple-agonist drug that targets three hormones: GLP-1, GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, another naturally occurring hormone released by the gut after eating) and glucagon receptors. The most advanced example is retatrutide by Eli Lilly, according to clinical trial outcomes.
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The New England Journal of Medicine published results from a 2023 phase 2 retatrutide trial for obesity, revealing “substantial reductions in body weight” after 48 weeks of treatment.
A 12 mg once-weekly injection led to a 24.2% weight reduction, and participants continued to drop pounds after the 48-week trial period.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. (iStock)
Side effects were reportedly similar to GLP-1 medications, most commonly including gastrointestinal complications like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Heart rate increases were noted, depending on the dose.
How it’s different
Retatrutide mimics three natural hormones found in the body, compared to GLP-1s that simulate just one hormone, according to a report by GoodRx pharmacists.
GIP and GLP-1 hormones signal the pancreas to release insulin after eating, while slowing digestion to help initiate feelings of fullness.
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These hormones target the area of the brain that regulates appetite and influences food cravings, the report noted.
The third hormone, glucagon, speeds up metabolism and helps the body break down fat cells for energy. That hormone also tells the liver to make new sugar, which is kept in check by GIP and GLP-1 activity, preventing blood sugar spikes.
Participants in the phase 3 trial saw an average weight loss of 71.8 pounds. (iStock)
“This added metabolism boost can add to and complement GIP’s and GLP-1’s actions. And that’s why it seems to provide significant weight loss,” the GoodRx website states. “If approved, retatrutide will be the first in a new class of medications.”
Eli Lilly announced results from its phase 3 trial TRIUMPH-4 in December, testing retatrutide’s effect on weight loss and other health conditions.
“We believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications.”
Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12-mg dose of retatrutide saw an average weight loss of 71.8 lbs (28.7%) at 68 weeks.
“For retatrutide, the findings from TRIUMPH-4 are encouraging, and with seven additional phase 3 readouts expected in 2026, we believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis,” a Lilly spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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The drug also reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores by an average of 75.8%, marking “significant improvements” in comfort level and physical function.
More than one in eight patients reported being “completely free” from knee pain at the end of the trial, according to a press release from Lilly.
Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12-mg dose of retatrutide saw an average weight loss of 71.8 lbs (28.7%) at 68 weeks. (iStock)
Seven additional phase 3 trials for retatrutide are expected to wrap up in 2026. The drug could see FDA approval in 2027, according to GoodRx.
The Lilly spokesperson noted that there have been no studies comparing retatrutide to GLP-1 treatments due to “differences in study design and patient populations.”
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Despite limited data availability on the drug, the medication could also be applied to treat other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic dysfunction, according to GoodRx and other experts.
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro already target two metabolic pathways — GLP-1 and GIP — which work together to promote weight loss, reduce hunger and inflammation, improve insulin function and slow digestion.
The doctor confirmed that the new drug, with its third receptor agonist, will further decrease hunger while increasing the feeling of fullness.
More than one in eight patients reported being “completely free” from knee pain at the end of the trial. (iStock)
“The weight loss in clinical trials is even more substantial, and the most likely reason that it decreases orthopedic problems is because of the weight loss — less stress on the joints and the decreased inflammation,” Siegel added.
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The most common side effect of GLP-3s is gastrointestinal symptoms, the doctor confirmed. Rarer side effects may include pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia.
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Philip Rabito, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology, weight loss and wellness in New York City, shared in an interview with Fox News Digital that this new class of weight-loss drugs is positioned to “approach bariatric surgery level outcomes” — although it doesn’t come without risks.
“The novel glucagon‑agonist component introduces less‑understood long‑term safety considerations, so it is imperative that patients are followed closely by healthcare professionals experienced with this class of medicines, with cautious, stepwise use, despite the impressive efficacy,” he cautioned.
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