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PUEBLO, Colo. -- 8 state workers from a document processing center showed up at a hospital in Pueblo complaining of eye and skin irritations and nausea Friday afternoon, symptoms consistent with exposure to hazardous materials.
Pueblo County emergency authorities say several people in the emergency room, including a hospital employee were also checked out because of they may have come in contact with the original 8.
As of late Friday night, the cause of the illnesses remained a complete mystery.
The Pueblo County sheriff's office said the situation began before noon at the state's document distribution center, located at 2 Jetway Ct. in Pueblo, near the airport. Hazmat crews were on scene for much of the day. The office complex has since been given the all-clear.
A decontamination site was set up just outside the government building. The sheriff's office evacuated the building, then by mid-afternoon they officially closed the building, telling employees they can leave the premise.
The sheriff's office said there are no current "sheltering in place" or evacuations ordered.
Three Pueblo City Schools, along with Colorado State University Pueblo, took "precautionary measures" by shutting down their air systems. The schools included East High School and Spann and Baca Elementary Schools, said Gregg Sinn with the school system.
Fire officials say the health department has taken four samples from the heating and cooling system to a lab for testing. The health department said it usually takes anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to complete the testing, at which point they will compare test results with those from the hospital's investigation of the symptoms.
Pueblo County emergency authorities say several people in the emergency room, including a hospital employee were also checked out because of they may have come in contact with the original 8.
As of late Friday night, the cause of the illnesses remained a complete mystery.
The Pueblo County sheriff's office said the situation began before noon at the state's document distribution center, located at 2 Jetway Ct. in Pueblo, near the airport. Hazmat crews were on scene for much of the day. The office complex has since been given the all-clear.
A decontamination site was set up just outside the government building. The sheriff's office evacuated the building, then by mid-afternoon they officially closed the building, telling employees they can leave the premise.
The sheriff's office said there are no current "sheltering in place" or evacuations ordered.
Three Pueblo City Schools, along with Colorado State University Pueblo, took "precautionary measures" by shutting down their air systems. The schools included East High School and Spann and Baca Elementary Schools, said Gregg Sinn with the school system.
Fire officials say the health department has taken four samples from the heating and cooling system to a lab for testing. The health department said it usually takes anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to complete the testing, at which point they will compare test results with those from the hospital's investigation of the symptoms.