Public Health Notice: Outbreak of hepatitis A infections linked to frozen mangoes
October 12, 2021 – Final Update
This notice has been updated to reflect that the outbreak appears to be over and the outbreak investigation has been closed.
On this page
- Why you should take note
- Investigation summary
- Who is most at risk
- What you should do to protect your health
- Symptoms
- What the Government of Canada is doing
- Epidemiological information
- Additional information
- Media contact
- Public inquiries
- Investigation history
Why should you take note
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) collaborated with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of hepatitis A infections that occurred in Québec and Nova Scotia. The outbreak appears to be over and the outbreak investigation has been closed.
Investigation findings identified exposure to frozen mangoes as a likely source of the outbreak. Two of the individuals who became sick reported consuming frozen mangoes before their illnesses occurred. Leftover frozen mangoes were collected from the homes of ill individuals and tested positive for the outbreak strain of hepatitis A.
The CFIA issued a food recall warning for various frozen mangoes sold under various brands. The recalled products were distributed in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. More information on the recalled products is available on CFIA's website.
Canadians are advised not to eat any recalled food products. Frozen mangoes have a long shelf-life and recalled products may still be in freezers. If you suspect you have been exposed to recalled products, or have symptoms consistent for hepatitis A, see your health care provider immediately. Vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure.
Investigation summary
In total, three laboratory-confirmed cases of hepatitis A illness were reported in the following provinces: Québec (2), and Nova Scotia (1). Individuals became sick between late March 2021 and mid June 2021. Two individuals were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Individuals who became ill were between 23 and 63 years of age. The majority of cases (67%) were female.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducted a food safety investigation and issued a food recall warning related to the outbreak investigation.
Who is most at risk
Anyone can become sick with hepatitis A infection. Most people who become ill from a hepatitis A infection will recover fully, but the risk of serious complications increases with older age and in those with underlying liver disease.
It is possible for some people to be infected with hepatitis A and to not get sick or show any symptoms, but to still be able to spread the virus to others.
What should you do to protect your health
- If you have recalled frozen mangoes in your home, do not eat them.
- Wash and sanitize any drawers or shelves in fridge and freezer areas where recalled products were stored.
- If you suspect you have been exposed to recalled products, or have symptoms consistent for hepatitis A, see your health care provider immediately. Vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure.
- Wash your hands before and after preparing or eating food, and after using the washroom or changing diapers.
- If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, do not prepare or serve food and drinks to others.
Symptoms
Not everyone who is infected will have symptoms. Symptoms are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Symptoms of hepatitis A include:
- fever
- dark urine
- loss of appetite
- fatigue (tiredness)
- nausea and vomiting
- stomach cramps or abdominal pain
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
After you have been exposed to hepatitis A, symptoms typically appear 14 to 28 days later, but may occur up to 50 days later.
Symptoms usually last less than two months. Mild symptoms may last only one or two weeks, while severe symptoms can last up to nine months.
What is the Government of Canada doing
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health of Canadians from enteric disease outbreaks.
The Public Health Agency of Canada leads the human health investigation into an outbreak and is in regular contact with its federal, provincial and territorial partners to monitor the situation and to collaborate on steps to address an outbreak.
Health Canada provides food-related health risk assessments to determine whether the presence of a certain substance or microorganism poses a health risk to consumers.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts food safety investigations into the possible food source of an outbreak.
Epidemiological information
Figure 1 is an epidemiological curve for this outbreak, which shows the numbers of new cases by week. Outbreak investigators use this information to show when illnesses begin, when they peak and when they trail off. It can take several weeks from the time a person becomes ill to when the illness is reported and testing confirms a link to the outbreak. Data are available for 3 cases.
Figure 1 - Text description
| Week of symptom onset or specimen collection | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| 2021-03-07 | 0 |
| 2021-03-14 | 1 |
| 2021-03-21 | 0 |
| 2021-03-28 | 0 |
| 2021-04-04 | 1 |
| 2021-04-11 | 0 |
| 2021-04-18 | 0 |
| 2021-04-25 | 0 |
| 2021-05-02 | 0 |
| 2021-05-09 | 0 |
| 2021-05-16 | 0 |
| 2021-05-23 | 0 |
| 2021-05-30 | 0 |
| 2021-06-06 | 0 |
| 2021-06-13 | 1 |
| 2021-06-20 | 0 |
| 2021-06-27 | 0 |
| 2021-07-04 | 0 |
| 2021-07-11 | 0 |
| 2021-07-18 | 0 |
| 2021-07-25 | 0 |
| 2021-08-01 | 0 |
| 2021-08-08 | 0 |
| 2021-08-15 | 0 |
| 2021-08-22 | 0 |
| 2021-08-29 | 0 |
| 2021-09-05 | 0 |
| 2021-09-12 | 0 |
| 2021-09-19 | 0 |
| 2021-09-26 | 0 |
| 2021-10-03 | 0 |
| 2021-10-10 | 0 |
| 2021-10-17 | 0 |
Additional information
Media contact
Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca
Public inquiries
Call toll-free: 1-866-225-0709
Email: info@hc-sc.gc.ca
Investigation history
Public Health Notice: July 31, 2021
Why should you take note
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Hepatitis A infections occurring in Québec and Nova Scotia. The outbreak appears to be ongoing, as recent illnesses continue to be reported to PHAC.
Based on the investigation findings to date, exposure to frozen mangoes has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak. Two of the individuals who became sick reported consuming frozen mangoes before their illnesses occurred. Leftover frozen mangoes were collected from the homes of ill individuals and tested positive for Hepatitis A.
The CFIA has issued a food recall warning for various frozen mangoes sold under various brands. The recalled products have been distributed in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories. More information on the recalled products is available on CFIA's website.
Canadians are advised not to eat any recalled food products. If you suspect you have been exposed to recalled products, or have symptoms consistent for Hepatitis A, see your health care provider immediately. Vaccination can prevent the onset of symptoms if given within 14 days of exposure. This notice contains more advice on how to avoid getting sick.
This public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.
Investigation summary
As of July 31, 2021, there are three laboratory-confirmed cases of Hepatitis A illness being investigated in the following provinces: Québec (2), and Nova Scotia (1). Individuals became sick between late March 2021 and mid June 2021. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between 23 and 63 years of age. The majority of cases (67%) are female.
The CFIA is continuing its food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated food recall warnings.
It is possible that more recent illnesses may be reported in the outbreak because there is a period of time between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to public health officials. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between two and six weeks.
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