California police are examining what they describe as “suspicious circumstances” after nearly 20 participants in a half-marathon were hospitalized, with multiple runners experiencing unusual symptoms.
The Santa Barbara Police Department said Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital contacted authorities after several runners from Sunday’s race sought treatment for symptoms that were not immediately explained, according to CBS Los Angeles.
“The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed,” police said. Officials added that no special action was currently advised for the public, but urged any participants who feel ill to seek medical care and follow the instructions of healthcare professionals.
Palm trees and homes along the hillside are seen from the Santa Barbara Harbor pier on November 26, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Police said the patients either made their own way to the hospital or were taken there by ambulance.
Cottage Health said in a statement to the outlet that emergency visits connected to the half-marathon exceeded expectations.
“We have a larger than expected number of emergency visits that are tracked to participants of this morning’s organized run in SB,” the health system said. “This morning 19 patients arrived at Cottage EDs, a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause.”
Hospital officials said they were continuing to investigate whether the illnesses were linked to heat or another factor.
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State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, California. (Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Organizers of the half-marathon told ABC 7 that they believe the hospitalizations were related to the heat.
Stearns Wharf, looking toward State Street and downtown, is shown in an aerial photograph taken February 23, 2018, in Santa Barbara, California. (George Rose/Getty Images)
“At this time, we have no reason to believe that there was anything out of the ordinary that occurred during today’s race, besides typical heat-related illness or exhaustion that can take place while participating in long endurance events such as a half marathon,” the spokesperson said.
Approximately 7,500 people took part in the half-marathon, the Los Angeles Times reported.
News Media has contacted the Santa Barbara Police Department, Cottage Health and the race organizers for additional comment.