The Latest: Hawaiian Airlines employee contracts Hepatitis A

HONOLULU – The Latest on the Hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant was among the people in Hawaii infected with Hepatitis A.

The state Department of Health says the attendant was on 33 flights from Honolulu to California, Nevada and neighbour islands in July. The employee served food and drinks to passengers.

Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Alex Da Silva says the airline is screening all crew members who worked with the infected attendant. He says no other crew members reported infections.

The health department said Tuesday that a food service employee at a Chili’s restaurant in Kapolei on Oahu also was infected. An employee at Chili’s referred calls to an outside phone number, and a message left there wasn’t immediately returned.

More than 90 people in Hawaii have contracted Hepatitis A in Hawaii since mid-June.

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11 a.m.

The federal government has awarded $3.7 million to the state Department of Health to fight infectious diseases like the Zika virus and Hepatitis A.

Health Director Virginia Pressler says the money will help Hawaii investigate its Hepatitis A outbreak. More than 90 people in Hawaii have contracted Hepatitis A in Hawaii since mid-June.

Pressler said Tuesday the funds also will help the state prevent local transmissions of the Zika virus in Hawaii. The health department urges Hawaii residents travelling to the Olympics to prevent mosquito bites to reduce the risk of contracting Zika and bringing it back to Hawaii.

Officials say anyone returning to Hawaii from areas affected by the Zika virus should see a doctor if they fall ill within two weeks of returning home.