In a mysterious and bizarre development, 19 runners fell ill and were hospitalized after running the Santa Barbara Half Marathon and 5K on Sunday.
The Santa Barbara Police Department issued a statement Sunday stating that it is investigating the incident, where runners said they had unusual symptoms.
Cottage Health Public Relations Manager Cristina Cortez said runners arrived at the Santa Barbara and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals with “similar symptoms of undetermined cause.”
“We have a larger than expected number of emergency visits that are tracked to participants in this morning’s organized run in Santa Barbara,” wrote Cortez in a statement to the News-Press.
Cortez said the hospital is working to figure out whether the illnesses were “due to the heat or other factors.”
Lt. Ethan Ragsdale of the police department said the cause of the symptoms have not been confirmed.
The incident consumed social media on Sunday with many people speculating about a variety reasons about the cause of the illness.
On Reddit, some users shared rumors that the water at hydration stations were possibly contaminated with drugs.
“Participants who feel unwell should seek medical attention and follow guidance from healthcare professionals,” Ragsdale said.
Ragsdale added that anyone with additional information or runners from the marathon who experienced unusual symptoms afterward should contact Sergeant Andre Miller at 805-897-2330.
The Santa Barbara Half Marathon was held at 7 a.m. on Sunday, starting on Cabrillo Boulevard and ending on State Street. Multiple road closures in these areas were in effect throughout the morning.
