A representative for Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion has blasted reports alleging a fog machine used at a recent party is to blame for a virus outbreak among a group of guests.
The publishing mogul's famous California bachelor pad is at the centre of an investigation by officials at the Los Angeles County Health Department after it played host to a fundraiser as part of the Domainfest conference earlier this month (Feb11).
According to the New York Post's Page Six column, around 80 attendees were diagnosed with Legionellosis or pontiac fever - a milder strain of the pneumonia-type Legionnaires' disease, caused by bacteria - hours after celebrating at the Mansion on 3 February (11).
Domainfest organisers are working with the Health Department to get to the bottom of the outbreak, and they have played down claims linking the sickness to Hefner's home.
A Domainfest spokesperson says, "There were events every night, and we are giving them a list of all the venues. We have no idea what this is or where it came from. The Mansion being to blame is at the moment, pure speculation."
But a Playboy Mansion representative has shut down the allegations altogether - because others present at the bash have not experienced any symptoms.
The publicist states: "There is no truth in the rumour that anyone caught anything at the Playboy Mansion. Nor is there any evidence.
"None of the Playboy staff became ill, the deejay was in the middle of the fog and she didn't get ill.
"We have been contacted by the Health Department and the Playboy Mansion is co-operating fully with the investigation."
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