MARION - A rash of unknown origin that was spotted late in the work day Wednesday on an employee opening mail at the VA Medical Center in Marion temporarily shut down the hospital's emergency room and left the administration building quarantined.

Hospital spokeswoman Peggy Willoughby said the emergency room and administration building reopened at roughly 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, after being shut down for between four and five hours.

The problem began when the employee - whose name and title Willoughby said she could not reveal - was dispatched to the center's emergency room and the decontamination unit on campus was activated. The Marion Fire Department was then contacted.

Capt. Terry Walsh with Marion said about 20 firefighters with specialized hazardous material training were sent to the VA from the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) 45 Hazmat Team, including seven from Marion; three from Johnston City; three from the Williamson County Fire Protection District; three from Herrin; one from Carbondale Township and an unspecified number from Murphysboro.

Willoughby said the Hazmat unit had entered the administration building shortly after 9 p.m., which is where the employee was working that afternoon. The administration building is separate from the hospital and is also referred to as the "modular" building.

Willoughby said all tests conducted by the unit, including biological, radiological and PH, came back negative, allowing the facility to be reopened.

Had any veteran needed emergency care during Wednesday's shut down, Willoughby said, he or she would have been forwarded to Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

john.homan@thesouthern.com / 351-5805