Affected hepatitis A airline-passenger count reaches 62

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of passengers potentially exposed to hepatitis A continues to grow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Airlines have not disclosed which flights the contagious flight attendant worked on other than a Sept. 21 flight from San Francisco to Charlotte.

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Channel 9 contacted the health departments of 86 states, cities and counties. At least 62 people across the country were exposed to hepatitis A while flying. Some health departments said passengers were exposed on the San Francisco to Charlotte flight. Other health departments were unable to confirm which flight the passengers were on.

62 confirmed cases include:

• San Francisco- 18
• Mecklenburg County, North Carolina- 18
• Virginia- 14
• South Carolina- 4
• New York- 2
• Union County, North Carolina- 2
• Cabarrus County, North Carolina- 1
• Illinois- 1
• Seattle- 1
• Texas- 1
• Pennsylvania- "A few"

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for American Airlines said the CDC would have to disclose which flights the flight attendant was contagious on. A spokesperson for the CDC told Channel 9 that American Airlines has to disclose it.

The only known flight at the moment was the Sept. 21 trip from San Francisco to Charlotte, and experts say that is a problem

"Some people might not know what they are sick with," attorney Bill Marler said. "Having that information is just good public health policy.”

Mecklenburg County has recently experienced several hepatitis A scares. Last year, thousands of people had to get vaccinated after eating at a Hardee's in west Charlotte.

[PAST COVERAGE: Hardees wants class-action lawsuit dismissed after hepatitis A outbreak]

Marler was one of the lawyers involved with the class-action lawsuit over the exposure and said restaurants and airlines need to encourage, if not require, hepatitis A shots for workers

"Hepatitis A is the only foodborne illness that is vaccine-preventable," he said. "It is just common sense, to at a minimum, offer the vaccines."

A spokesperson for American Airlines did not respond to Channel 9's request for comment on the airline's vaccination policy.

Cox Media Group