Playboy Mansion Investigation Into Health Scare

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County health officials are investigating reports that dozens of people contracted respiratory illnesses after a fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion that was part of a larger conference held in Santa Monica. 

The Department of Public Health issued a statement Saturday saying only that it was investigating a suspected respiratory infection outbreak among attendees of a conference on the west side of the county.

But the Los Angeles Times says the department sent an e-mail with a survey to all who attended the Feb. 3 event at the L.A. mansion, saying that they had received reports of problems including pneumonia.

Some 700 people from 30 countries attended the Santa Monica conference, called Domainfest global.

Representatives from Playboy and the conference did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

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