H1N1 causes shutdown at the Small Business Administration
October 21, 2009 - 12:34pm
FederalNewsRadio
The U.S. Small Business Administration has reported a second confirmed case of H1N1 in an employee.
SBA Tuesday closed its Herndon, Va. loan processing facility about 2 p.m. after it received word that a worker had come down with the virus. The shutdown sent home about 100 employees, and SBA followed up with a cleaning crew to sanitize the center.
Mike Stamler, an SBA spokesman, said the agency acted in an abundance of caution to protect its workers.
"We're following CDC guidance they've issued across the government on how to maintain essential services and keep employees and their families healthy."
The Herndon, Va. loan facility has since re-opened.
SBA confirmed another case of H1N1 last week at its headquarters in Washington, DC. That case, however, did not prompt any shutdowns.
No word on either employee's condition.
The agency, whose chief mission is to help small businesses succeed in the U.S. economy, employs more than 2,000 people at offices throughout the country.
Stamler said SBA has been working to get far ahead of the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu, because an outbreak at his agency could hurt mission-critical functions. In that light, Stamler said, the agency has placed hand sanitizer throughout its facilities. Employees have also been offered disinfecting wipes. And they have been given access to free seasonal flu shots.
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