There have been 898 cases of hepatitis A reported in Manitoba since September 2024.
197 of those cases required hospitalization, eight intensive care unit admissions, and seven deaths. The majority have been spread through person-to-person contact. As the outbreak continues in Manitoba, the criteria for free hepatitis A vaccines have been updated.
Eligibility for one free dose of the hepatitis A vaccine has been updated to include all individuals aged six months or older who:
- live in an Indigenous community in Manitoba;
- travel regularly to an Indigenous community in Manitoba; or
- have household visitors from an Indigenous community in Manitoba.
Children who meet one of the above criteria and were born on or after Jan. 1, 2010, continue to be eligible for a second dose.
The following individuals remain eligible for one dose of the hepatitis A vaccine as part of the outbreak eligibility criteria:
- inmates of correctional facilities; and
- staff and volunteers of non-health-care community-based organizations in Winnipeg that serve people experiencing homelessness.
The following individuals with other risk factors for hepatitis A continue to be eligible for free hepatitis A vaccine based on existing criteria:
- people experiencing homelessness;
- people who use drugs;
- individuals with certain high-risk medical conditions; and
- gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Eligible individuals can access the hepatitis A vaccine through primary care providers, local public health offices, nursing stations and health centres.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. They include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Those with mild symptoms often recover within one to two weeks. Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated water, food and close contact with someone who has the infection, even if they do not have symptoms.
It's recommended to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds after using the toilet, handling diapers, and before eating or preparing food.
