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Carolyn Kaster \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
The province is offering free immunization for hepatitis A to those most at risk.<\/p>\n
Kurbis has served as a provincial medical officer of health in communicable disease control since 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are concerned at the number of really severe outcomes that we are seeing,\u201d she said Monday.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. An outbreak was declared more than a year ago, when it initially affected several communities in northern Manitoba. The virus has since spread to more communities, and the number of cases has climbed to 601, as of April 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had an outbreak in Manitoba for many, many years, so this is new,\u201d Kurbis said, adding people who typically get the hepatitis A vaccine do so prior to travel abroad.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a virus we routinely immunize for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The province is offering free immunization to those most at risk: people in the Island Lake area (Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake First Nations), Peguis First Nation, War Lake First Nation (also known as Ilford) and Bloodvein River First Nation.<\/p>\n
Anyone travelling to or working in those communities, or hosted household visitors from any of them is urged to get the free vaccine.<\/p>\n
Others at risk and eligible include people experiencing homelessness, who use drugs and those with certain high-risk medical conditions. Kurbis said a lack of infrastructure and access to clean water and adequate sanitation exacerbates the spread of hepatitis A. It can spread through contaminated water, food and close contact with someone who has the infection. Those at highest risk include household members, people who spend a lot of time together or share food or utensils.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people don\u2019t have access to adequate housing with basic infrastructure in place, we\u2019re going to see ongoing outbreaks and people at risk,\u201d the doctor said. \u201cPart of our jobs is to raise awareness and advocate for everyone to have access to those standards that we have in place for clean drinking water and adequate sewage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indigenous Services Canada, which is responsible for funding First Nations infrastructure, did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.<\/p>\n
The outbreak in Manitoba could take months to get under control using immunization campaigns and urging people to wash their hands, Kurbis said.<\/p>\n
Public health is identifying communities and those most at risk who may not know if they\u2019ve got hepatitis A and are infectious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe symptoms take anywhere from two weeks to up to 50 days after exposure to occur,\u201d Kurbis said. \u201cThat\u2019s a really long time to remember where you might have been exposed to the infection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once someone is infected, they\u2019re infectious for two weeks before their symptoms develop and one week after jaundice develops.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn top of that, there are a number of people who won\u2019t develop any symptoms,\u201d Kurbis said. \u201cChildren are known to have more milder cases or to be asymptomatic, but they can still spread the infection to other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although hepatitis A can be spread through the blood, that\u2019s not how most of the infections have happened in Manitoba, she said. Most involve contact with those known to be sick or infected.<\/p>\n
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The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has been trying to engage with community organizations and doing outreach to try to reach at-risk populations and offer them the vaccine, Kurbis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone should be aware of the issue,\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone should be conscious about washing their hands after using the washroom and before they eat. If they had contact with someone who they think had hepatitis A, they should connect with their health-care provider.\u201d <\/p>\n
She said the vaccine eligibility criteria may change to include more at-risk populations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely an evolving situation.\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Carol Sanders Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
Legislature reporter
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