California Police Investigate After Nearly 20 Half-Marathon Runners Hospitalized With Unusual Symptoms

Police in Santa Barbara, California, have opened an investigation into what they described as suspicious circumstances after nearly 20 people were hospitalized following a half-marathon held over the weekend.

The Santa Barbara Police Department said Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital contacted authorities after a number of runners from Sunday's race came in seeking medical treatment for unusual symptoms once the event had ended, according to CBS Los Angeles.

"The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed," police said in a news release. "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."

According to police, those who were hospitalized either made their own way to the hospital or were taken there by ambulance.

Cottage Health acknowledged the surge in patients in a statement, saying the volume of emergency visits connected to the race was higher than anticipated. "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."

A hospital spokesperson said medical staff are still working to determine whether heat or other factors were behind the symptoms reported by the runners.

The group that organized the half-marathon told ABC 7 it believes the hospitalizations were related to heat. "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," a spokesperson for the organizers said.

Roughly 7,500 people took part in the half-marathon, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fox News Digital said it has reached out to the Santa Barbara Police Department, Cottage Health and the race organizers for additional comment as the investigation continues.