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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Mecklenburg County Health Department urges people who ate at Hardee's Restaurant at Little Rock Road, west of Charlotte, to get vaccinated against hepatitis A as soon as possible.
Health officials said the epidemic identified by the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month has led to another five cases since June 6, including a Hardee employee diagnosed Monday.
The director of health said that there have been 12 cases of hepatitis A this year, 10 since April 20.
"After consulting with the state today, we recommend a vaccine for exposed employees and customers who ate at the restaurant on 2604 Little Rock Road between June 13 and 23," said the director. health, Gibbie Harris.
Officials said that up to 4,000 people ate at the restaurant during this 10-day period.
[RELATED: Mecklenburg Co. health officials begin biweekly updates after 5 confirmed hepatitis A cases]
Officials said that the employee who tested positive for hepatitis A was manipulating the food and that is why others may have been exposed.
The health department on Monday discovered that the employee had been diagnosed with liver disease, but waited until Tuesday to inform the public.
"We did not have any information yesterday, and if we had talked to the state yesterday it would have really not changed our schedule," Harris said.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham said the health department had dragged its feet on the issue and should have informed the public earlier.
"If it had been in Myers Park at Panera Bread, would that have been different?" Said Cotham.
The Hardee's restaurant closed voluntarily Tuesday afternoon.
Channel 9 spoke to a customer who said that he ate there Tuesday morning and that he was trying to get some answers.
"They said it was a precautionary measure, that they were cleaning things up, that they said I should be fine, but I will still call my doctor," said the client. Darren Brown.
Daniel Hunt has eaten twice at Hardee during the time period, and he plans to get a shot of hepatitis A on Wednesday.
"I'm a little nervous about this, but I'm trying to stay strong," Hunt said.
According to the CDC, the vaccine must be administered within 14 days of exposure for the vaccine to be effective.
Here is a list of vaccination clinics for clients who may have been exposed:
- Wednesday, June 27 from 8 am to 7 pm and Thursday, June 28 from 8 am to 5 pm at the Northwestern Health Department, 2845 Beatties Ford Rd. And Southeast Health Department, 249 Billingsley Rd.
- Friday, June 29 from 15h – 20h00 at Hal Marshall building, 700 N. Tryon St.
- Saturday, June 30th and Sunday, July 1st from 10am to 3pm at the Hal Marshall Building, 700 N. Tryon St
The health department said anyone who dined at the Hardee's on June 13 and 14 should be vaccinated within the next two days.
Officials said that they are setting up a hotline for staff to answer questions about potential exposure, but the number is not yet available.
You can find more information about hepatitis A on the website of the Ministry of Health.
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