7 ill from unknown substance in Riley Hospital for Children's ER

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- An unknown substance sickened seven people and temporarily closed the emergency room at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis on Thursday, authorities said.

The nature of the substance and its source weren't identified Thursday. An Indianapolis Fire Department hazardous material crew collected the clothing of the affected people for testing, Lt. Derrick Sayles said.

All seven people sickened were released after treatment or transferred to other hospitals, Riley said. They were not identified, and the conditions of those still hospitalized were not released.

Sayles said those who became sick had smelled something and felt uneasy, although he couldn't identify specific symptoms. He said the head nurse decided to close the emergency room and divert patients.

The hospital conducted precautionary decontamination procedures, he said.

"They just knew things weren't right. They wanted to be on the safe side." Sayles said.

Dr. Jeff Sperring, Riley's president and CEO, said Thursday night the hospital planned to reopen the emergency room later that night after being cleared to do so by "external authorities" he did not identify.

Earlier, Sperring issued a statement saying "external crews have yet to identify the exact source of the incident."

"The area has been contained and we're seeing no evidence of any further spread," he said.

Sperring said the property was inspected, including garages.