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A
small amount of the tuberculosis bacteria may have been released
while being transported between two of the hospital's cancer
research buildings, the spokeswoman, Kim Hoppe, said in an
email. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a serious airborne infection.
Both buildings were evacuated, and employees who were in the
area when the incident occurred have been isolated and will be
evaluated by the Fire Department, Hoppe said.
"So far, all indications are that no other individuals have been
exposed; however, the buildings will remain evacuated until
cleared by public safety officials," Hoppe said.
Helicopter footage by a news crew showed about two dozen people
standing outside one of the hospital's buildings, with some
dressed in hazmat suits.
A spokeswoman for the fire department did not immediately
respond to requests for comment.
Johns Hopkins Hospital is considered one of the top hospitals in
the United States.
In 2016, about 10.5 million people became ill around the world
with tuberculosis, and 1.7 million were killed by it. A tiny
fraction of those infections and deaths were reported in the
United States.
(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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