Urgent Travel Advisory for Parts of Canada Due to Hepatitis A Outbreak
Health officials in the United States have issued a warning for travelers heading to parts of Canada, specifically the province of Manitoba. This comes as a response to an outbreak of hepatitis A, a liver infection that spreads through contaminated food and drinks or from person to person.
Since the outbreak began in April 2025, there have been 658 cases reported in Manitoba, with 142 people hospitalized. Among those, five required intensive care, and four have died. The majority of these cases were reported in Winnipeg, the capital city of Manitoba, which has a population of nearly 850,000 residents.
Hepatitis A is known to infect approximately 1,600 to 3,300 Americans and about 250 Canadians each year. The disease has an incubation period of 28 days, meaning that individuals can unknowingly spread the virus to others in crowded environments for almost a month before symptoms appear.
Symptoms and Risks of Hepatitis A
While some people may not show any symptoms, those who do may experience weakness, sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, clay-colored stools, dark urine, and joint pain. The illness can also cause itching and jaundice, which are signs of liver damage.
Most people recover without specific treatment, but in rare cases, hepatitis A can lead to fulminant hepatitis, a severe form of liver failure caused by intense inflammation. When the liver is unable to filter toxins from the blood, these substances can build up and affect vital organs like the brain.
Older individuals and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing more severe illness.
Travel Precautions and Vaccination Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 1 travel advisory for Americans visiting Manitoba. This includes practicing usual precautions such as regular handwashing, avoiding sharing needles or syringes, and using condoms during sexual activity.
The CDC also recommends getting vaccinated against hepatitis A. In the United States, the vaccine is typically given once to children between 12 and 23 months old, with a second dose six to 18 months later. By age two, about 75 percent of U.S. children have received at least one dose, and 46 percent have completed both doses.
In Canada, the hepatitis A vaccine is administered once between six and 12 months of age, followed by another dose six months later. Adults who did not receive the vaccine as children can also be vaccinated.
Travelers are advised to seek immediate medical care if they experience symptoms such as dark urine, clay-colored stools, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, or jaundice during or after a trip to Manitoba.
How Hepatitis A Spreads
Hepatitis A spreads when a person ingests microscopic amounts of fecal matter from an infected individual. This can happen through consuming food or drinks handled by someone who did not properly wash their hands. Close physical contact, such as living in the same house or having sex with an infected person, also increases the risk. Sharing needles or touching contaminated surfaces can also lead to transmission.
However, it is important to note that hepatitis A does not spread through casual contact such as coughing, sneezing, or sitting next to someone.
Treatment and Recovery
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, as the virus usually clears on its own, and the liver heals within a few months. Health experts recommend rest to help alleviate symptoms and avoiding alcohol, which can further harm the liver.
