(WSBT) The Liz Claiborne Outlet store at Lighthouse Place has temporarily closed its doors after an employee came to work with an infection on Saturday.

Thursday afternoon the store released a statement saying the employee tested negative for a MRSA staph infection.

The LaPorte County Health Department also said late Thursday that it has no confirmation of any MRSA cases.

No one is saying what the infection is, but starting Friday, the store will destroy everything inside and replace it with new merchandise.

They've also disinfected the entire store.

"We called the offices to find out what was going on,” said store employee Candice Long. “They said there was leak."

But then Long read the signs on the door, picked up the paper and got a different story.

She learned a Liz Claiborne employee came to work Saturday with an infection.

"Oh, gosh, we were all mad, so ticked off,” she said. “I don't want to get sick. I don't want my kids to get sick."

The LaPorte County Health Department also found out about the case after reading the newspaper. They say since then, phone calls have been pouring in.

"Many of the calls that we have received and the concerns we've had have been unfounded,” said Joanne Hardacker of the LaPorte County Health Department.

WSBT spoke with a manager from Lighthouse Place.

“This is an isolated incident being handled by Liz Claiborne corporate, and we're very pleased with the way they've been handling it,” Janice Behler told WSBT News. “We have no further information."

Liz Claiborne corporate confirmed the employee had an infection, but would not say what that infection was.

They released the following statement:

An employee of the Michigan City store did have an infection, but the diagnosis is unconfirmed. Regardless, we took all necessary precautions including closing the location and disinfecting the store. Moreover, the merchandise will be destroyed and replaced. The store was also tested, and no trace of the bacteria was found. The safety of our customers and employees is paramount and we will not re-open the store until it is safe to do so.

Other mall employees say they fear for their safety.

"We don't find things out when we should and I'm not the only one who feels like this mall doesn't care about our personal safety," Long said.

The LaPorte County Health Department says while people may be apprehensive after hearing of the problem, there's no reason to believe anyone in the community is at increased risk.

The company says it plans to re-open the store next Friday, Nov. 16, with brand new merchandise.