CDC issues travel advisory for Manitoba hepatitis A outbreak

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel health notice for Manitoba in response to a prolonged hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people across the Canadian province and shows few signs of slowing ahead of the busy summer travel season.

New CDC notice highlights hepatitis A risk in Canada

A new Level 1 travel health notice for hepatitis A in Canada, posted on the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website on June 4, 2026, specifically cites the ongoing outbreak in Manitoba. The advisory encourages travelers to practice usual precautions while drawing attention to elevated hepatitis A activity in parts of the country.

The notice places Manitoba’s situation among a small group of current global travel health postings, indicating that public health agencies are watching the outbreak closely as international travel rises. While a Level 1 notice does not advise against visiting the province, it signals that additional planning and preventive steps are recommended, especially for visitors who are not vaccinated.

Online reaction to the posting underscores how unusual it is for a U.S. health agency to single out a Canadian province for an infectious disease warning. Commenters tracking the notice describe it as a rare move linked to the sustained size and duration of Manitoba’s outbreak.

The advisory arrives as North American travel ramps up for major summer events and holidays, a period when more U.S. residents typically visit Manitoba for tourism, family visits and outdoor recreation.

Outbreak in Manitoba passes 700 cases and continues to grow

Publicly available information from Manitoba’s health department shows that the hepatitis A outbreak began in April 2025 and has continued through 2026, with cases now spread across multiple communities. A provincial update cited in local coverage reported 784 outbreak-associated infections as of early June, including hundreds of confirmed cases and dozens classified as probable.

Health-sector bulletins circulated in April 2026 referenced more than 500 outbreak-linked cases at that time, indicating that the total has climbed steadily in recent weeks. Provincial summaries describe genetically linked cases, suggesting ongoing person-to-person transmission rather than isolated exposures.

Media reports in May linked at least three deaths to the outbreak, with a number of patients requiring hospital care for acute liver inflammation. Those severe outcomes, although still representing a minority of infections, have added urgency to vaccination campaigns and outreach targeted at higher-risk groups.

Manitoba health officials have repeatedly described the situation as an active, evolving outbreak rather than a historical cluster, and recent technical memos to clinicians emphasize that new infections continue to be detected across the province.

Who is most affected and how the virus is spreading

According to provincial health materials, the outbreak has affected a range of communities but has been concentrated in people experiencing social and economic vulnerabilities. Updates from Manitoba’s Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care department highlight elevated risk among people experiencing homelessness, those who use drugs, and residents of several northern and First Nations communities.

Hepatitis A spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route, which can include direct close contact with an infected person, caring for someone who is ill, or consuming food or water contaminated with microscopic traces of infected stool. Public education resources from Manitoba describe the virus as highly contagious, particularly where access to sanitation, clean water and consistent handwashing is limited.

Outbreak investigations point toward person-to-person spread rather than a single contaminated food source. This pattern helps explain why the number of cases has built over time and why the outbreak has proved difficult to extinguish despite targeted vaccination and hygiene campaigns.

Provincial disease-control documents note that, prior to this outbreak, Manitoba had gone more than a decade without a locally acquired hepatitis A case unrelated to travel, underscoring how significant the current surge is in the province’s recent epidemiological history.

Expanded vaccination campaigns aim to contain transmission

In response to the continuing spread, Manitoba has repeatedly expanded eligibility for publicly funded hepatitis A vaccination. Government bulletins issued between late 2025 and spring 2026 outline widening access to the vaccine in affected northern communities and specific First Nations, as well as for people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and those who work closely with higher-risk groups.

Recent technical updates describe additional communities being added to the outbreak-response program in May 2026, and health-care provider letters from April reference more than 500 outbreak cases at that point. These communications encourage clinicians to proactively offer hepatitis A vaccine to eligible patients and to remain alert for signs of acute liver infection.

Public education materials from Manitoba stress that vaccination is the most effective tool for preventing infection and curbing the outbreak. The province also promotes frequent handwashing with soap and water, safe food handling, and staying home from work or school when ill, particularly for those employed in food service, childcare or health care.

The CDC’s travel notice aligns with this focus, advising travelers who are not already protected against hepatitis A to consider vaccination before visiting areas affected by the outbreak and to take routine precautions with food, water and personal hygiene while in Manitoba.

What the advisory means for travelers planning Manitoba trips

The CDC’s Level 1 notice does not recommend canceling or postponing trips to Manitoba. Instead, it signals that visitors should make sure they are protected and informed before they go. Hepatitis A vaccine is widely used in North America, and many adults and children may already have received it as part of routine immunization or prior travel.

For travelers who have never been vaccinated, guidance from travel medicine references indicates that a first dose can provide good short-term protection, with a second dose later ensuring longer-term immunity. People with chronic liver disease or other medical vulnerabilities are often advised to be especially diligent about vaccination, as hepatitis A infection can be more severe in these groups.

General food and water precautions remain relevant for visitors. Public information campaigns in Manitoba recommend drinking safe water, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish, and washing fruits and vegetables when possible. Careful hand hygiene, particularly after using the bathroom and before eating, is also emphasized as a practical way to lower risk.

Travelers who develop symptoms such as fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain or jaundice after visiting Manitoba are encouraged, in public-facing health materials, to seek medical assessment and mention their travel history. Early evaluation can help clinicians distinguish hepatitis A from other causes of liver inflammation and support timely public health follow-up if needed.