BY SAMANTHA NEGRAVAL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, N.J. will remain closed Friday as state health officials try to determine what made employees sick on Monday. The courthouse has remained closed this entire week.

According to the Associated Press, 25 people were brought to the hospital for treatment on Monday, while 40 were treated directly at the courthouse. This outbreak was similar to an episode one week ago, in which 17 workers experienced chest pains and nausea as well as difficulty breathing and skin rash.

So far allergen tests have not provided any clues. Yesterday, Monmouth County Spokesman Bill Heine released a statement to NJ101.5 regarding testing.

“The State Department of Health wants to do a more prolonged air quality test over a 24 hour period,” he said.

It is not clear when the courthouse will reopen, but it could happen early next week said Heine.

A statement on the courthouse main page does not comment on the mystery illness, but it does provide directions for people who have needed court services this week.

For more information on the courthouse’s contingency plan, click here.