Science | Playboy 'Pontiac Fever' Crashed Playboy Mansion Party Fog machine spread bacterium, attendees suspect By Nick McMaster Posted Feb 14, 2011 5:09 PM CST Copied WealthTV's new series "Social" hosted by Danielle Staub provides viewers with an inside tour of Sir Ivan's Castle, aka the Playboy Mansion of the Hamptons. (PRNewsFoto/WealthTV) The culprit behind the dozens of people sickened after a party at Playboy Mansion? Officials think it's Pontiac Fever, a milder form of Legionnaires' disease that's known as legionellosis. The bacterium that causes legionellosis lives inside warm water and can take root in ventilation systems; some suspect that a fog machine used at the party may have spread the disease, the LA Times reports. Read These Next SCOTUS sounds skeptical about law banning gay conversion therapy. Felix Baumgartner's death attributed to his own error. Robin Williams' daughter: AI clips of him are 'disturbing' Trump, Johnson aren't happy with pick for Super Bowl headliner. Report an error