Twenty-eight residents at the Ozanam Shelter in Edison were taken to area hospitals this afternoon after complaining about symptoms from a cause now under investigation, according to officials.
EDISON -- Twenty-eight residents at the Ozanam Family Shelter in Edison were taken to area hospitals Monday after complaining about symptoms of nausea and diarrhea, according to officials.
The affected residents include 12 women and 16 children, according to Andy Toth, Edison's emergency management director.
Toth said carbon monoxide exposure is being investigated because symptoms were similar, but has not been confirmed. He said the cause is still under investigation.
Marianne Majewski, executive director of Catholic Charities in Middlesex County, which operates the shelter for homeless women and their children, said the building has been checked several times for carbon monoxide, but none was found.
The shelter had a boiler problem on Saturday, Majewski said, but that was fixed and the building was cleared for occupancy. As of 1 p.m., Majewski said, the building had not tested positive for carbon monoxide. It's possible that the illnesses are related to food poisoning, Majewski said.
Members of the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials unit are on the scene at the shelter, located on Truman Drive.
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