Mysterious Illness Strikes Playboy Mansion

While it’s not terribly surprising the Playboy Mansion would be ground zero for the outbreak of something or other, a mysterious respiratory illness probably isn’t at the top of the list. Los Angeles County health officials are investigating dozens of reports of people experiencing respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms, and pneumonia after attending a conference at the California mansion. One possible suspect is legionellosis, or Pontiac fever, a milder form of Legionnaires’ disease. It’s caused by bacteria growing in warm water—like hot tubs, or the fog machine at the conference. Seven hundred people from 30 countries attended the DOMAINfest Global conference.