Coachella fans who attend the California-based music festival typically go for good music and a good time — but they may end up bringing home something much worse than a hangover and some sunburn. Cosmopolitan.com reports that Coachella is a verifiable hotbed of various viruses and bacterial infections, especially due to the widespread use of public restrooms that are heavily trafficked, but might not be frequently cleaned. In fact, according to medical experts, festival-goers actually run the risk of picking up illnesses like the flu, Norovirus, Salmonella, and even hepatitis A. Sick concert: Festival-goers who attend outdoor concerts like Coachella are at risk to contract diseases like influenza and Norovirus . While this is the first year that Coachella has installed permanent restrooms, instead of setting up notoriously dirty portable toilets, the festival's 324 new private stalls could still be harboring germs; even spending time around  so many people outside of the restrooms has health risks. 'Outdoor music festivals and concerts where thousands of people are clustered together in close quarters can be a breeding ground for infections and other health problems,' Dr. Kevin Campbell tells DailyMail.com. He advises that festival attendees should take steps to avoid catching diseases like Norovirus and Salmonella, which can cause gastrointestinal distress, as well as conditions like hepatitis A, influenza, and Shigellosis. Close quarters: At Coachella, thousands of people are packed into tight spaces, which creates conditions for bacteria and viruses to spread quickly . Toilet upgrade: New permanent restrooms on the festival grounds include 324 private stalls, but even nicer-looking facilities can spread germs . 'In general, it is essential to wash your hands before eating and drinking,' Dr. Campbell adds. 'Using hand sanitizer is an important, portable way to eliminate many bacteria from your skin before introducing food into your mouth.' Experts also warn that people at Coachella should also take precaution to touch as few surfaces as possible while in public restrooms. Some ways to avoid contact with germs and bacteria include using paper towels to turn off sink faucets after washing hands and not touching door handles. Celebrities beware: Even stars like Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner, pictured here at Coachella, are not immune from the risk of contracting hepatitis A and Shigellosis . But bacteria and viruses aren't the only things at outdoor concerts that can lead to illness. '[These events] often involve drinking alcohol and some recreational drug use,' explains Dr. Campbell. 'It is essential to be careful to avoid dehydration — the combination of the sun and heat with alcohol can be quite dangerous. 'Take precautions by limiting alcohol intake and drink plenty of water during outdoor events,' he adds. 'Wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn, and a wide brimmed sun hat is also an important tool to ward off sunburns that can lead to skin cancers.'
Large crowds, close quarters and heavily-trafficked public restrooms allow for illnesses to spread.
Attendees are at risk of catching anything from Norovirus to flu.
The second installment of California-based music festival Coachella takes place this weekend.