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Bunny Hoarders: Is Hef's Playboy Mansion Making People Sick?

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Los Angeles County health officials are investigating Hugh Hefner's legendary Holmby Hills home "after reports that dozens of visitors contracted a mysterious respiratory illness after attending a fund-raiser" at the Playboy Mansion earlier this month, notes LA Now.

The annual DOMAINfest Global conference at the Fairmount Miramar in Santa Monica held a event at the Mansion on Feb. 3 after which the L.A. health departement "received a 'cluster of reports' that people had become ill after attending the conference and the Playboy Mansion event," says LA Now. An e-mail was sent out to approximately 700 attendees from 30 different countries warning them of the reports and inquiring about whether they were also suffering from illness including respiratory problems, and/or pneumonia.

One attendee reported becoming ill for five days beginning the day after the event and reported fatigue, fever, dry cough, headaches and back spasms. Many suspect a fog machine used at the party is behind the illness and believe their symptoms may be "related to Legionellosis, or Pontiac fever— a milder form of Legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by bacteria living in warm air-conditioning systems," reports LA Now. The Playboy mansion is cooperating fully with LA health officials according to the New York Post, reports LA Now.

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