Blue Ridge Rock Festival are back in the headlines already, and somehow, it’s worse than expected. They are now being investigated by the Virginia Department of Health because of gastrointestinal issues that are being reported by concert goers.
This gross-out twist to the horror film that has been Blue Ridge Rock Fest comes after the event was cancelled early due to “extreme weather,” though attendees suspect a union strike was the cause, and after the venue came out with a statement saying they weren’t sure if people would get refunds yet.
The Virginia Department of Health published a survey asking what folks were drinking at the festival and if they used hand-washing stations near the bathrooms. It also asks if people have been experiencing “nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea after attending the Blue Ridge Rock Festival.” The survey is completely anonymous.
“The Southside Health District is investigating complaints of gastrointestinal illness in groups of patrons who attended the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Halifax, VA between September 5-10, 2023,” say the Virginia Department of Health. “We would greatly appreciate your assistance and time in investigating this situation by answering the questions in this online survey.
“We ask all people that attended the festival to complete this survey, even if you didn’t become ill. Collecting information on both those who became ill and those that did not become ill helps us identify and evaluate differences between the two groups. Please answer each question as completely as possible. Do not leave any questions blank. Please complete a separate survey for each person who attended this event.
“The information you provide in this survey will be kept confidential. No individual data will be used in any report or communication.”
A news story from WFXR Fox claims that someone named Andy Petite who attended the festival believes they are suffering effects from the water at the festival and wanted to come forward.
“There’s discoloration, there’s all sorts of stuff,” says Petite. “I’m 172 pounds right now which is 13 pounds less than I was at the age of 13.”
“Our nurse practitioner said, Andy, you need to go immediately to employee health and tell them you may have ingested parasitics or been introduced to one at least.”