A Virgin Airline employee is wheeled from a terminal at Melbourne, Australia's Tullamarine Airport（Melbourne Airport）by paramedics in protective clothing Feb. 21.

Paramedics, firefighters and hazardous materials crews in full protective clothing rushed to the airport after staff in a domestic terminal began suffering nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headaches and respiratory problems.

The terminal shut down while emergency crews tested air conditioning units and other facilities in an unsuccessful hunt for what was causing the illness.

Most of those affected were security and airline staff working in the departure area for Virgin Blue, a domestic carrier, officials said.

The shutdown of the terminal caused chaos around the airport, with dozens of domestic flights delayed or canceled and incoming passengers off-loaded on the tarmac.

Fire officials said they were using sophisticated testing equipment but had been unable to identify the source of the contamination.

A spokesman for Airservices Australia, which provides firefighting services at the airport, said there was no evidence of a chemical leak or spill.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 26, 2005
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