By Kasi Addison
The Star-Ledger
NEWARK, N.J. — At least 38 people were hospitalized yesterday after they suffered an allergic reaction to an unknown substance in a Newark apartment building infested with bedbugs, fleas and mice.
No one yet knows what caused residents of 521 S. 17th St. to break out with skin rashes, swollen eyes and sore throats, but officials believe it is somehow related to the infestation or the effort to exterminate the pests. City officials could not immediately say when the building had been last exterminated.
“This is an isolated incident. We have a single building and a limited number of people affected. We’re relieved to know this problem is contained,” said Mayor Cory Booker, who was at the scene. “The next day is critical, and we’re going to find out the possible cause.”
Emergency workers spent hours searching in vain for a source of the irritant in and around the three-story apartment building. Air and water samples came back negative.
As of last night, residents were not allowed to return to the six-family apartment building. Some residents were relocated to shelters while others stayed with friends and relatives. Many of the victims were young children.
“It’s sad,” said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who also reported to the scene. “No young people should be put through what these kids had to go through.”
Officials were alerted to the problem after residents of the building called 911 around 11:25 a.m. yesterday. They complained of light-headedness, sore throats, itchy, watery eyes and irritated skin. The building was evacuated along with one next door at 519 S. 17th St.
A triage tent was set up where victims were treated before being taken to one of four area hospitals: Beth Israel Medical Center, East Orange General, Saint Michael’s Medical Center or University Hospital.
As they waited to be transported, children pressed towels against swollen faces, some so irritated their eyes appeared closed. Nearby, some adults also wiped water from teary eyes.
“They say something is in there, but nobody knows what it is,” said Abdul Muhammad, a tenant of 521 S. 17th, before he was whisked away in an ambulance.
Resident Dwayne Cromwell, 38, said the problem first surfaced two weeks ago when a girl on the first floor broke out with a rash. During the next two weeks, he said, more children started showing symptoms, including his 8-year-old twins.
Then yesterday, Cromwell said he woke up with a rash and swollen eyes.
“I feel kind of scared to go back in there because no one knows what it is and it might be something that can kill you,” said Cromwell, whose eyes were red-rimmed and swollen. “
Cromwell said the building was not well-maintained and tenants recently asked the landlord to diffuse a strange odor that had been lingering in the building. Property records list the owners of 521 S. 17th as BEMC Realty Group LLC. They could not be reached for comment last night.
Another victim, Kenneth Jackson, 23, said he was frustrated by the response to the situation. Jackson does not live at the building but spent the night there with a friend.
When he woke up yesterday, his eyes were swollen and watery.
“They didn’t tell me anything about what’s going on with me,” he said.
Jackson said he went to the hospital and was not given any treatments.
John Brown, a spokesman with the Newark Fire Department, said the residents were given Benadryl and steroids, and released.
The city and Essex County hazardous materials team tested the building for toxins but nothing was found, Brown said. A crew from PSE&G was also called but determined natural gas wasn’t leaking into the apartment, and inspectors from the city’s Water and Sewer Department also found nothing that would have caused the problems, he said.
Not knowing what caused dozens to sicken was scary, said Doreen Green, whose 8-year-old niece was one of the kids taken to the hospital with a puffy face and eyes.
“She went to sleep last night and woke up with her eyes swollen shut,” she said. After a local doctor suggested the little girl needed to go to the emergency room, they called 911, Green said.
“That’s when we found out there were other reports of people with problems,” she said. “We just want to know what’s going on.”