Santa Barbara Police Probe Illness Wave at Half-Marathon
Investigators are examining why 27 runners sought emergency care after a race where temperatures hit 86 degrees.
By Amina Howard ·
Santa Barbara police opened an investigation on November 10 to determine the cause of a medical cluster that affected runners at a local half-marathon. The inquiry began after a hospital reported a sudden spike in emergency room visits from participants who finished the race on Sunday, November 8.
Cottage Health, the operator of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, confirmed that 27 individuals from the event were treated in emergency rooms in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Of those patients, 24 were discharged after care. Three runners remained hospitalized as of Monday, and medical staff described their conditions as stable.
A statement from the police department indicated that officers received the initial notification regarding the cluster of cases from the hospital. The department noted that while the volume of emergency visits was higher than expected, the specific cause of the symptoms has not yet been confirmed. Police did not recommend specific actions for the general public but advised participants who feel unwell to seek medical attention.
Weather conditions on race day differed from the seasonal norm. Temperatures along the Pacific Ocean route reached 86 Fahrenheit by midday, compared to the standard low 70s Fahrenheit expected for early November. Several thousand people participated in the event.
David Monico, the event director, told US media that 15 people were transported from the on-site medical tent to local hospitals. He attributed those transports to dehydration and overheating. However, some participants described symptoms that extended beyond typical heat exhaustion.
One runner who sought medical attention spoke with KEYT-TV about losing consciousness and experiencing gaps in memory regarding portions of the race. The runner, who asked not to be identified, described the situation as "awfully suspicious" and noted that other participants reported hallucinations. The runner stated they had never previously witnessed a competitor failing to remember a large portion of the run.
Officials continue to monitor the situation to determine whether the elevated temperatures played a primary role in the incident or if another factor is responsible for the unusual symptoms reported by participants.
