One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Mystery Illness Investigation Spreads Beyond Playboy Mansion
The initial "cluster of reports" of people falling ill after attending a four-day conference in Los Angeles has increased dramatically since Sunday with more than 170 people now affected by what's being described as a "suspected respiratory infection outbreak," reports LA Now.
Attendees of the annual DOMAINfest Global conference at the Fairmount Miramar in Santa Monica also attended several events around the city and LA County public heath officials are now looking into a number locations, in addition to the Playboy Mansion, to discover the source of the symptoms that may be related to Legionellosis, or Pontiac fever.
A fog machine used at the Playboy Mansion party on Feb 3 was originally considered as a possible suspect, but according to a statement, "the department is investigating several locations associated with this conference, including the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills...at this time, Public Health has not determined that the source of exposure is limited to a specific location. The department is working to conclusively identify the source of exposure and the likely cause of illness for this suspected outbreak," notes LA Now
Conference events included a Polynesian Party at the Fairmont, a Golden Era themed Hollywood Party at SkyBar and a playmates-hosted Playboy Mansion party to benefit Jenny McCarthy's autism foundation, reports LA Now
Los Angeles County health officials are now receiving assistance from the state Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and surrounding county health departments a number of conference attendees live outside of the region. Public Health, however, states they have no information to suggest the outbreak has spread beyond the conference associates.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
