3 State Workers Sickened After Opening Letter at Office

Police say three state workers have been taken to a hospital after becoming ill in their Albany office when one of them opened a letter from a foreign country.

Albany police spokesman Steven Smith says the fire department’s hazardous materials team responded around noon Tuesday to the Department of State’s offices on the fifth floor of One Commerce Plaza, near the state Capitol in downtown Albany.

Smith says the person who opened the letter became ill and so did two co-workers. He says all three were taken to a hospital for evaluation.

He says firefighters deemed there was nothing dangerous on the letter.

The letter’s country of origin wasn’t released.

Smith says the matter has been turned over to state police. State police say the letter will be tested.