The province has increased its eligibility for free hepatitis A vaccines ahead of the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games.

People aged six months or older in Norway House Cree Nation and Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, anyone travelling to or working in these communities during the games, and people who have visitors from those communities are eligible for free hepatitis A vaccines.

The games take place July 8 to 12 in Norway House Cree Nation and Aug. 10 to 15 in Sagkeeng.

The current hepatitis A outbreak in Manitoba, first declared in April 2025, has affected communities in northern Manitoba, including an increasing number of cases in Winnipeg.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection that can cause symptoms including fever, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. Symptoms can be more severe, especially in people with weakened immune systems. It spreads through contaminated water, food and contact with people with the infection, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Washing hands with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help prevent infection.

A number of groups continue to be eligible for the hepatitis A vaccine in Manitoba, including children who live in or regularly travel to and from an Indigenous community, or have household visitors from Indigenous communities.

People from a number of communities, including the Island Lake area, Peguis First Nation, War Lake First Nation, Ebb and Flow First Nation, Cross Lake First Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation are eligible for a single dose of the hepatitis A vaccine.

The vaccine is also available to people who meet several risk factors, including people who are homeless, use drugs, have certain medical conditions, or are men who have sex with men.

In total, 826 cases of hepatitis A were reported from September 2024 to June 21, mainly spread through person-to-person contact. There have been 183 hospitalizations, eight intensive care unit admissions and seven deaths since September 2024.