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 Here's where Sean Penn was on Oscars night. Iran-linked hackers launch 'significant' cyberattack. Trump is 'not happy with the UK' over his Persian Gulf push. The tiny bite tasted horrible—and gave her botulism. Report an error