Mild Form of Pontiac Fever at -Fest

Speculations about the flu strain visited upon hapless visitors to last week’s February 1-3rd Domainfest are becoming clearer. Los Angeles County Health Department actions to survey the participants were the topic of an article in the New York Times, which angled on the Playboy Mansion as a source for the illness. Pontiac fever is an unofficial diagnosis. High profile domain  industry blogs have chronicled the strange illness  outbreak from initial recovery stages. International Domainfest guests carried the symptoms home abroad as well.

Many domainers suspect the illness was actually a bacterial infection, although the manner it is discussed uses the term  “flu”. The Playboy mansion has a lagoon, fog mist and the type of warm air conditioning said to allow such bacteria to flourish. There is no detail if the assault allegedly taking place on the bus home from the Playboy Mansion had anything to do with the outbreak. So far the Los Angeles Times has been mum on the topic. Antibiotics are urged as the supposed 5 day burnout of this illness requires prescription aid.

The Times sketches the illness as Pontiac fever, (or walking pneumonia), a milder form of Legionelleosis, named for the original Legionnaires Disease. Sources say as many as 93 participants fell ill, some requiring antibiotics and suffering more harsh symptoms than others. (Vulnerability to any strain of flu or virus can be affected by fatigue, body chemistry, and length of exposure to infection source). The Los Angeles Center for Disease control is involved in a survey both for issues of environmental health and traveller health.

DomainSponsor, a unit of Oversee, has been active in collaborating with agencies to get proper data regarding attendees where it needs to be and released a statement Friday urging domainers to cooperate with the CDC.

“DomainSponsor, the organizer of the DOMAINfest Global conference, and its parent company, Oversee.net, have been made aware that several people in attendance at DOMAINfest and various evening events during the week became ill during the conference or after it concluded.

There has been significant speculation about this situation, but as of now, not many actual facts are known.  Only medical authorities are qualified to identify this illness and investigate its ultimate source, so toward the improvement and protection of everyone’s health, it’s important not to speculate or make unfounded assumptions.  Of course, should you have a concern about your health, please seek the advice of a doctor.

The health and safety of DOMAINfest attendees is our first priority, and thankfully, most attendees and staff did not become ill, and those that did appear now to be feeling better.  Even so, in order to accurately identify the health concern and prevent its further possible communication, we have consulted with Los Angeles County health authorities and at their request have provided them a comprehensive list of places we know gatherings were held (either organized by DOMAINfest or by others) during each day and night.  We also have notified our vendors and service providers of the situation, and have encouraged them to cooperate with authorities and take any steps they believe necessary.

Medical authorities have further requested, and Oversee has provided, a list of all attendees and their e-mail addresses.  You may already have received a link to a survey asking for more information.  It is important that ALL attendees complete the survey, whether you were ill or not.  This will help authorities narrow down the range of possible causes and sources.  Only health authorities will have access to this data—neither Oversee nor any other party will be able to see it, so please do your part to help.

Oversee will continue to work with health authorities, though at this stage, work is best left in their hands.  If there’s more we’re in a position to share about the situation, we will do so.

DOMAINfest was a great event—our best ever with more than 700 attendees—and it’s regrettable that this has cast a shadow over an otherwise good week.  We’re very encouraged that most everyone is in improving health (including those on our staff), and look forward to seeing many of you in Barcelona in June.”

CarSurvey.com registers 5th gear…

Another domain hitting the figure five in auction was CarSurvey.com. This domain name sped up the ranks at NameJet.com. CarSurvey.com sold for $10,641,  hitting the fast auction lane at high speed and clutching at the fifth cylinder of big dollar tranches,  zooming past the checkered flag at over $10K.