SAN ANTONIO – About 75 people were quarantined Tuesday afternoon at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital at the Medical Center after an envelope containing white powder was opened in the radiology lab.
A spokesperson for the San Antonio Fire Department says the scene was cleared a few hours later after hazmat teams could not find enough of the substance to test.
That spokesperson says hazmat even dusted a computer keyboard because a worker opened the envelope over a computer.
Workers immediately informed hospital administration and called 911.
The fire department says hazmat teams have to take all threats seriously, so about 75 people in the radiology lab were quarantined.
The hospital said in a statement that the rest of the hospital, including patients, was not at all affected.
The fire department said no employees showed symptoms like water eyes or respiratory problems that would indicate the powder was harmful.
Back in June 2010, the same hospital had a similar scare when workers opened a piece of mail containing an unknown white substance. The powder was later determined to not be harmful.
