Playboy Mansion investigated after 75 guests fall ill in apparent outbreak of Legionaires disease
By PAUL THOMPSON
Last updated at 7:52 PM on 13th February 2011
Last updated at 7:52 PM on 13th February 2011
Health officials are investigating the Playboy Mansion over fears Hugh Hefner’s famed property is the source of a recent disease outbreak.
More than 75 conference guests who attended a fundraiser at the Los Angeles residence were reportedly struck down by a respiratory infection.
Four Swedish men who attended the event were diagnosed with Legionellosis or pontiac fever, a milder form of Legionnaires disease caused by bacteria that thrives in warm air-conditioning systems.
Investigation: Playboy bunnies pose under the marquee at the Mansion prior to the party on February 3. The room appears smoky thanks to a fog machine
Trouble: The Autism Fundraising Party was held under a marquee at the Playboy Mansion on February 3
Cuplrit? Fog can be seen under the marquee after it was created by a machine at the party. Now officials are wondering if it sparked the disease outbreak
A fog machine used at the bash could have spread the illness.
Over 700 guests were attending an event on February 3 as part of the annual DOMAINfest Global conference.
The three-day conference took place at a hotel in Santa Monica and the final gathering was at a party in the grounds of the iconic Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.
Within 48 hours after leaving the mansion, scores of people reported coming down with symptoms including fever, respiratory problems and violent headaches.
Lights shine through the fog beneath the marquee. Up to 700 guests attended the party, and 75 have been taken ill
More guests catch a breath of fresh air outside the marquee at the February 3 party
Many of the victims started tweeting and posting their symptoms on Facebook and that's when organisers of the conference noticed a trend.
Elliot J. Silver, who attended the party, said: 'It is scary everyone came down with the same thing at the same time.
'It knocked me on my ass. A lot of people are blaming the Playboy Mansion on the blogs, but you can't be sure.'
Playboy spokeswoman Teri Thomerson said the Playboy Mansion was cooperating fully with the Department of Public Health's investigation.
Hefner lives at the mansion, which has been valued at $64million (£40million), with his 24-year-old British model fiancee Crystal Harris.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356612/Playboy-Mansion-illness-75-guests-Legionairres-disease-outbreak.html#ixzz1DsumtAV6
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