Police investigate after 27 fall ill at half marathon in California

Police in Santa Barbara, California, are investigating after 27 people needed medical care following a half-marathon held in the city on Sunday.

In a statement provided to CBS News, officers said they received a report from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital about race participants who sought medical treatment for unusual symptoms after the race ended.

“The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed,” the statement added.

Cottage Health, which operates the hospital, told CBS it had seen a larger than expected number of emergency visits from those who ran the race.

According to Cottage Hospital, 27 people from the half-marathon were treated at emergency rooms in Santa Barbara and nearby Goleta. Of those, 24 were discharged after treatment, while three people were still in hospital as of Monday in stable condition.

Several thousand people ran the half-marathon on a hotter-than-usual day in Santa Barbara along the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures reportedly reached 86F (27C) by midday, compared to a typical early November temperature of low 70s.

One runner who went to hospital told local news outlet KEYT-TV that they had lost consciousness and could not remember parts of the race.

“It is awfully suspicious,” said the runner, who declined to be identified. “We had people saying they were hallucinating.”

Event director, David Monico, told US media that 15 people were taken from the medical tent to local hospitals because of dehydration and overheating.

Police said there is no specific action recommended for the public at this time, however, participants who feel unwell should seek medical attention and follow guidance from healthcare professionals.