Nashville airport cautions tourists about Hep A outbreak

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — It's not something you'd normally expect to see walking through the airport -- but both the Tennessee Department of Health and Metro Department of Health are actively warning passengers about the city's Hep A outbreak.

“Because of the numbers here we’re pulling out the stops to try to educate people and do what we can to stop it here in Nashville, “ Dr. Tim Jones with the TN Dept. of Health said.

On every screen at each carousel in the baggage claim at BNA there are messages warning about Hep A at events like concerts.

“We really don’t want to scare people unnecessarily but I think that the more information people have the more they can protect themselves, “ Jones said.

Chelsea Shaw is visiting Nashville from Michigan, she loves music festivals, and is aware of what goes on at various concerts.

“It’s one of those things I really don’t think about it, but I really don’t take or give anything to anybody else, so it’s just one of the be aware," Shaw said.

“We have lots of people coming in and enjoying large venues it which also means they’ll be in contact with lots of people who unfortunately sometimes engage in behaviors that may increase the risk for Hepatitis A, this is the reason we’re putting information like this in places like airports,” Jones said.