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Santa Barbara police probe illness affecting 27 half-marathon runners
Police in Santa Barbara are investigating after 27 participants in Sunday’s half-marathon sought emergency medical care with unusual symptoms of undetermined cause. The investigation follows reports from a local hospital; organisers say they have no information pointing to anything beyond symptoms linked to exertion, heat or dehydration.
More than 4,640 people ran the roughly 13-mile race, held as temperatures reached 88F (31.1C), unusually high for November. Organisers transported 15 people from the event’s medical tent to hospitals, while others went themselves. By Monday morning, 24 patients had been treated and discharged, and three were in stable condition; authorities and the hospital have not detailed the symptoms.
In short
- Police are investigating 27 runners’ hospital visits.
- Race-day temperatures reached 88F (31.1C).
- Most patients had been discharged by Monday morning.
Explained simply
A half-marathon is a road race of about 13 miles (21 kilometres), and thousands of people took part in Santa Barbara’s event. The race was held in warm conditions: temperatures reached 88F (31.1C), which is unusually high for November.
Police began investigating after a local hospital reported that runners had needed emergency care. Race organisers say they have no information suggesting a cause beyond possible effects of exertion, heat or dehydration. Authorities and the hospital have not described the symptoms, so their cause remains undetermined.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Police investigate as nearly 30 Santa Barbara half-marathon runners fall ill with ‘unusual symptoms’”.