Late Friday (April 15) the Los Angeles Times reported that earlier that day local health officials had released some preliminary results from their investigation into the widespread outbreak of illnesses that we reported after a domain industry party at the Playboy Mansion Feb. 3, 2011 (this was the closing event of the 2011 DOMAINfest Global Conference). Their findings to date were issued in a presentation made at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual Epidemic Intelligence Service conference in Atlanta.

Most of the speculation on the nature of the illness that struck well over 100 attendees has centered on the legionella pneumophila bacteria that causes both Pontiac Fever and the more severe Legionnaire's Disease. Those suspicions grew several weeks ago when public health officials confirmed they had found the bacteria in a "water source" at the Mansion. 

On Friday, in their CDC presentation, they pinpointed the location where they found the bacteria as a whirlpool spa, yet thus far officials said their lab tests have not yet confirmed any cases of legionellosis (Pontiac Fever of Legionnaire's Disease) among the affected attendees. Tests toward that end are continuing though and officials said those tests can take months to complete. 

They also said in a statement printed by the Times that even though Legionella bacteria was identified in a Playboy Mansion whirlpool, this bacteria has not been determined as the 

Image: Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

source of the respiratory outbreak. The statement said "Other potential causes under investigation include influenza, as three individuals who attended the conference tested later positive for the flu. However, the cause of the outbreak has not been conclusively determined at this time."

(Posted April 18, 2011)