Hepatitis A case detected at Winnipeg school

A case of hepatitis A was recently diagnosed at Shaughnessy Park School in northwest Winnipeg, with parents, guardians, students and staff advised to monitor for symptoms until Nov 3.

An immunization clinic will be held at the school, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said in a letter to parents, guardians and staff Friday. The school has students in nursery to Grade 8.

Manitoba Health has been monitoring an increase in cases of hepatitis A — an acute liver infection — with 1,004 reported between September 2024 and Sept. 10, 2026. The province said 257 hospitalizations, eight intensive care unit admissions and seven deaths were reported during that period.

“While the rate of cases in the Winnipeg health region increased in the spring and has remained stable since then, there has been a decreasing trend in the rest of the province,” a provincial spokesperson said in a statement.

An outbreak was declared in April 2025. The largest number of cases has occurred in northern communities, although many cases have been identified in Winnipeg, especially among people who are homeless or have connections to affected communities, the province has said.

The risk of exposure for the general public is classified as low.

The infection can easily spread by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person.

Symptoms, which usually develop 14 to 28 days after exposure, can include fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.