Home / Health / Manitoba First Nation Declares Emergency Over Hepatitis A Outbreak
Manitoba First Nation Declares Emergency Over Hepatitis A Outbreak
17 Jul
Summary
- Shamattawa First Nation declared a state of emergency due to a hepatitis A outbreak.
- Nearly 1,500 residents are in the remote community accessible only by air or winter road.
- 867 hepatitis A cases and 7 deaths reported in Manitoba since September 2024.
Shamattawa First Nation, a remote community of nearly 1,500 people in Manitoba, has declared a state of emergency due to an ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A. The community, only accessible by air or winter road, is seeking urgent strengthening of public health responses, including increased vaccination efforts and more healthcare professionals.
As of July 5, Manitoba Public Health reported 867 cases of hepatitis A and seven deaths since September 2024. The outbreak, officially declared in April 2025, has led to a travel warning for the province from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Health officials emphasize the need for community-level vaccination, with at least half the population requiring the vaccine for protection.
Leaders highlight that inadequate infrastructure, including issues with water and sanitation, contributes to the spread of the virus. They are calling for immediate emergency funding, additional health resources, and long-term investments in healthcare, housing, and clean water to combat the outbreak and prevent future infectious disease crises.
