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MIKAELA MACKENZIE \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara<\/p>\n
So, when America\u2019s leading public health agency issued a notice telling people to be mindful of their interpersonal interactions in Manitoba and to be vaccinated against hepatitis A before visiting, officials with tourism agencies and government ministries knew they had a job to do.<\/p>\n
First up was responding to inquiries from news outlets, which Travel Manitoba did by pointing out it had received no inquiries from wary travellers or would-be tourists.<\/p>\n
Louise Waldman, the agency\u2019s vice-president of communications, pointed out that the CDC issued its lowest-level travel alert for Manitoba, Level 1 \u2014 which asks travellers to \u201cpractise the usual precautions\u201d \u2014 and told the Free Press that, \u201cManitoba is a safe and welcoming destination.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara joined in, saying \u201cwe need to continue doing the hard work that we are doing on the ground to reach people.\u201d A spokesperson for Doctors Manitoba likewise said, \u201cIt is important to follow public health advice, particularly in communities where the outbreak is active.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking a look at the communities in which the outbreak is active, however, illuminates the heavy lifting that must be done, long after the news cycle has passed and spokespeople have mopped their brows.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis A is a dangerous but vaccine-preventable liver infection spread by close personal contact with an infected person. As of June 4, there were 784 reported cases in the province, up by 75 from the previous month.<\/p>\n
The outbreak began in April 2025 in northern Manitoba and has spread to several communities, with many cases linked to homeless and unhoused populations and those with connections to other outbreak communities. So far, the outbreak has resulted in four deaths, eight intensive-care admissions and 165 hospitalizations.<\/p>\n
The warning regarding hepatitis A arrived just over a month after Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba\u2019s chief public health officer, declared a public health emergency over the fact Manitoba\u2019s HIV infection rate has increased at an alarming rate.<\/p>\n
Examination of the populations affected by the HIV emergency and the hepatitis A outbreak shows considerable overlap.<\/p>\n
Speaking about HIV in May, Roussin said transmission in the province is linked to injection drug use, homelessness, mental-health issues and a rise in other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.<\/p>\n
Does that sound familiar?<\/p>\n
When the HIV emergency was declared, Asagwara called for more federal support and organizations such as the Manitoba Health Coalition called for more action.<\/p>\n
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