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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.
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