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.
Base officials are coordinating with local HAZMAT teams and @FBI. Several
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) February 27, 2018
Marines are receiving medical care as a result of this incident. No additional details are available at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
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.
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