The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Manitoba following a significant surge in hepatitis A cases. Provincial health authorities confirmed 784 infections associated with the outbreak since April 2025, including more than 100 new cases reported in the last month alone.
Manitoba Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin stated the notice serves as an informational update rather than a travel deterrent. Nearly 25 percent of infections are concentrated in Winnipeg, with 186 cases recorded in the city. The outbreak has resulted in 165 hospitalizations, eight intensive care admissions, and four deaths.
Health officials attribute the spread to inadequate sanitation infrastructure in northern communities and overcrowded housing conditions in urban centers. Vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness and individuals who use substances, remain at highest risk.
In response, Manitoba has expanded vaccine eligibility to multiple First Nations communities, including Tataskweyak Cree Nation and Island Lake area residents. Eligibility also extends to correctional facility inmates and staff serving homeless populations in Winnipeg.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch indicated the virus remains largely contained within specific high-risk settings. Current data suggests transmission is unlikely to spread significantly into the general population or beyond provincial borders. Health authorities continue to utilize a targeted vaccination strategy to manage the outbreak.