More than two dozen customers of a Morgan Hill department store were treated Saturday for symptoms consistent with an airborne contamination, but the exact cause of the illnesses remains a mystery, according to authorities.
About 5:35 p.m., emergency responders received a call from the manager of T. J. Maxx, 401 Vineyard Town Center, reporting that several customers and an employee were getting sick inside the store, according to Morgan Hill Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Main.
The subjects reported shortness of breath, strange taste in their mouths and facial numbing sensation, Main said. MHFD transported three of the patients to the hospital, and three others elected to go to the hospital on their own before leaving the scene.
In all, 26 people who had been inside the store were evaluated for the symptoms and potential exposure to the unknown cause of the illnesses, Main said. Those people were triaged at the scene by paramedics, and those who went to the hospital were decontaminated before being transported, authorities said.
Main added he heard from area hospitals after the incident was cleared that others traveled to Saint Louise Regional Hospital and Valley Medical Center for evaluation.
The illnesses were isolated to the interior of T. J. Maxx, which was evacuated for several hours and did not affect businesses in the same shopping center, Main added.
“The majority felt better after they came out” of the store, he said.
Firefighters and Morgan Hill police “looked on every shelf in the store” and checked the roof and air conditioning units but could not determine what caused the symptoms, Main said. Authorities also checked for gas and carbon monoxide leaks, monitored the oxygen content inside the store and even looked for evidence of poison or foreign chemicals but could not identify anything harmful.
“We didn’t find any sign of vandalism, terrorism or anything like that,” Main said. “We have no idea why this occurred.”
Authorities instructed the store to contact their air-conditioning company to check the vents and circulation system for mold or other toxic substances, Main said.
“My personal hope is they just need to clear their vents,” he said.
A T. J. Maxx employee Monday referred phone calls to the store’s corporate public relations office in Massachusetts. That office was not aware of the incident Monday morning, but a representative offered to follow up with more information about the potential cause of the incident and store hours.
Area fire departments sent two fire engines, a ladder truck and three ambulances to the scene, Main said. MHPD also responded with multiple officers.
