Wednesday, March 13, 2013
An email to employees reports Johns Hopkins does not believe three of the four illnesses are related to a contaminated hot water heater.
(UPDATE 12:50 p.m.)— An employee at Johns Hopkins at Keswick complex in Hampden, who reported feeling ill earlier this week, has fainted and been taken to an area hospital Wednesday, according to an email to employees in those buildings. Four more employees at the south building at the complex reported being ill on Tuesday, but an email to employees reports at least three of those cases were not caused by issues with a hot water heater. "In the fourth case, we do not have enough information yet to say one way or the other. But we will update you again when we know more," according to an email sent to employees. In February, the building was evacuated once and on two separate occasions dozens of employees reported being ill and were taken …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The south building at the facility will be open on Wednesday.
The Baltimore City Health Department announced measures to prevent further sickness at the south building of the Johns Hopkins at Keswick complex after two recent incidents caused the structure to be closed. The building will reopen Wednesday, but measures, such as shutting off water to a section of the building affected by reports of illness, flushing the water systems, recertifying the water system and inspecting the cafeteria will be taken. The health department is still searching for what caused 12 people—eight of whom were taken to areas hospitals—to get sick on Monday. That followed a similar incident last Wednesday when 23 people that work at the building eventually reported being ill. That also forced the building to be closed …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Five more people were taken to area hospitals after reporting being sick.
(UPDATE 9:48 p.m.)—Days after 21 employees reported being ill, and caused the closure of Johns Hopkins at Keswick complex, seven more people were taken to area hospitals on Monday. Chief Kevin Cartwright, a Baltimore Fire Department spokesman, said the department was called to the complex, 3910 Keswick Road twice, once after 10 a.m. and again after 2 p.m. to respond to a report of illness. He said the employees complained of dizziness, nausea and headache. A total of 12 people reported feeling ill, according to a Baltimore Health Department news release. Initially Cartwright said five people were taken to area hospitals. Hazmat units checked the building and could not find a hazard. The Baltimore Health Department, the Maryland Department …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Johns Hopkins at Keswick north and south buildings will be open on Thursday.
The cause of the illness in the south building at Johns Hopkins at Keswick facility is nitrates in a hot water heater, and both buildings will be open for business, according to a message on the complex’s website. A hot water heater was reportedly harboring the nitrates that made it into the south building’s hot water service. "First of all, nitrates and nitrites can cause the types of symptoms that employees reported. Second, the north side of the south building, where running water with those chemicals was found, is served by that hot water heater. Third, that is also the side of the building where sickened employees have reported coming into contact with water in various ways: eating food cooked with hot water, drinking beverages …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Baltimore City Health Department is looking for the cause of the breathing trouble that prompted Tuesday's evacuation.
(UPDATE 2:24 p.m.)—Both the north and south buildings of the Johns Hopkins at Keswick complex are closed after an outbreak of breathing difficulties prompted an evacuation on Tuesday. A notice announcing the closure was posted on the facility’s website that explains that authorities are still looking into the cause of the "illness." The website also instructs all staff who reported being ill to report to Occupational Health or Occupational Injury and complete an incident report before returning to work. The Baltimore City Health Department along with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Johns Hopkins University will investigate the cause of the incident, according to an email from Tiffany Thomas Smith, a spokeswoman …
