Emergency Situation at Fort Myer Military Base After a 'Suspicious Letter' Is Opened

Cortney O'Brien | February 27, 2018 6:32 PM

Nearly a dozen people are ill at the Fort Myer military base outside the nation's capital after being exposed to an unidentified substance in a letter on Tuesday. Three individuals have been taken to the hospital, but are reportedly in stable condition.

JUST IN: Hazmat situation is unfolding at Ft. Myer military base outside Washington, D.C.@ArlingtonVaFD says 11 people started feeling ill after a letter was opened in the admin building, 3 transported to a local hospital
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) February 27, 2018

ABC News reporters obtained more specifics on who was affected by the letter and the symptoms they experienced.

UPDATE on the incident at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall involving a suspicious letter: We're told a Corporal, Gunnery Sergeant, and a Colonel had symptoms including burning hands and face, one person had a nose bleed
— Lindsey Mastis (@LindseyMastis) February 27, 2018

Marine official confirms when suspicious letter was opened people began suffering from face, eye and skin irritation. One person began bleeding from the nose. A corporal, colonel and sergeant were rushed to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/puox10TZLS
— Q McCray (@ABC7Q) February 27, 2018

The U.S. Marines Twitter account offered the following update.

This is the third incident in recent weeks in which a letter with a mysterious substance has been addressed to high profile figures. Donald Trump, Jr.'s wife Vanessa Trump was sent to the hospital for decontamination after opening a piece of mail earlier this month that contained a suspicious white powder. Then, another letter with white powder was mailed to former President Barack Obama's Washington, D.C. office. That, however, turned out to be baby powder.

This post has been updated.