‘A silent disease': Manitoba hepatitis C numbers on the rise again
Dr. Kelly Kaita from U of M discusses hepatitis C in Manitoba and the urgent need for action to eliminate the virus.
Manitoba has the highest level of hepatitis C in the country and an infectious disease expert said it shows no signs of slowing down.
Doctor Kelly Kaita heads up the viral hepatitis investigative unit at the University of Manitoba.
After a 'dramatic decrease' of infected individuals from 2018 to 2020, federal surveillance data recorded an upswing in Manitoba hepatitis C cases in 2021, Kaita said.
That year, Manitoba recorded 42.3 cases per 100,000 people—the most in Canada and distantly followed by Saskatchewan at 38.3 and Newfoundland and Labrador at 29.8.
This trend looks to continue in the next batch of data, Kaita said.
'In 2022 data, it looks like it will be the same, and it's suspected that that might relate to the opioid epidemic and the methamphetamine epidemic that a lot of the provinces are seeing right now.'
Kelly Kaita
Doctor Kelly Kaita is shown during a CTV Morning Live Winnipeg interview on World Hepatitis Day on July 28, 2025.
Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection primarily spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. It causes liver inflammation and if left untreated, can cause serious liver damage.
Symptoms can take years to appear, Kaita said, meaning many who are infected don't know to seek treatment.
'It's a silent disease.'
While it can spread through recreational drug use, there are other common ways to contract the virus, like unprofessional tattoos or body piercings and blood transfusions prior to 1990.
However, one demographic is particularly at risk.
'If you're in the age group born between 1945 and 1975, you're five times more likely to have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus,' he said, noting anyone born between those years should get tested.
Kaita shared the reminder on World Hepatitis Day, an occasion to boost awareness about the disease in a World Health Organization-led push to eradicate it altogether by 2030.
He reminded those who might have a high-risk factor to get tested, as he stressed it is a curable disease.
'Get tested. Get cured, and then we can reach that 2030 goal.'
- With files from CTV's Ainsley McPhail
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
6 minutes ago
- CTV News
2,500 in Timmins-area to gain primary care providers with $1M in new funding
Northern Ontario Watch Timmins MPP George Pirie announced more than $1 million to get people connected with primary care physicians on Friday. Three area health teams submitted a proposal for the funding with the goal of serving more than 2,500 patients by adding new medical staff including doctors, nurse practitioners and administrators.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Edmonton's heat wave might be keeping mosquitos away: expert
Officials in Edmonton say recent hot weather is keeping the mosquito population at bay in the city. While most people appreciate some hotter days, it's fair to say that mosquitos are less well-received. According to city officials, sweltering days could be keeping the bloodsuckers at bay. 'We've had really dry conditions in Edmonton since the spring, and all the mosquitos need water in order to carry out their life cycle,' said Sarah McPike, a biological sciences technologist with the city. 'We've had relatively low numbers all summer long.' The most common type of mosquito in the area is the Culex pipiens species, or the common house mosquito. McPike said this summer they've been less than one per cent of the mosquito count. This bodes well for concerns about West Nile virus, as the first human case of the mosquito-transmitted disease was confirmed in Toronto on Thursday. There are a few species of mosquitos in the Edmonton area that could 'potentially' carry West Nile virus, McPike said, but the species they're catching in their traps with the city are 'not known to vector West Nile virus.' 'The mosquito carries the virus, and most of the time it's going to choose to bite a bird to get the blood that the female needs to grow its eggs,' she said. 'So they're much more likely to bite birds in our area than they are to bite people.' For people who are concerned, McPike said the best defence starts at home. 'Make sure you don't have much standing water in your backyard. Empty bird baths regularly, watch for flowerpots and things where you can make sure they don't have any standing water in them,' she said.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Bat in Pembroke, Ont. tests positive for rabies, health unit says
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) says a bat that was found in Pembroke, Ont. has tested positive for rabies. The health unit said in a news release Friday that the bat was submitted as part of an investigation into possible human exposure and staff from the RCDHU have followed up with those involved to prevent rabies infection. 'Local human-bat exposures have been increasing in recent weeks and RCDHU is advising Renfrew County and District residents to remain vigilant about the risk of rabies. This animal rabies case is the first in Renfrew County and District this year,' the health unit said. According to the RCDHU 33 bats have been submitted for rabies testing since 2021 and of these 33, four (12 per cent) have tested positive for rabies. 'Rabies is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which is almost always fatal. Rabies is transmitted to humans through direct contact with saliva from an infected animal, usually through a bite, but saliva contamination of cuts, scratches, or mucous membrane is also possible. The animals that most commonly have rabies in Ontario are bats, skunks, and raccoons. Human rabies cases in Canada are very rare,' the health unit says. The Renfrew County and District Health Unit says residents can protect themselves against rabies with several tips: Vaccinate your pets against rabies; it is the law in Ontario that all cats, dogs, and ferrets over 3 months of age are vaccinated against rabies. Stay away from wild animals and always refrain from feeding, touching, or handling wildlife. Do not trap and transport wild animals to a new location. Warn children to stay away from wild or stray animals. Keep pets away from wild animals and do not let pets roam unsupervised. You can bat-proof your home or cottage by caulking holes in the exterior, even those as small as one-quarter to one-half inch in diameter; tightening screens, capping your chimney, placing draft guards under doors leading to the attic and outside, and filling plumbing fixture holes with steel wool or caulk; and keeping doors tightly closed when going outside and coming back indoors. If a bat gets into your home, it's recommended you confine the bat to one room, open a window and turn off the lights so that it can fly out on its own. If it doesn't leave, contact pest control experts who can humanely trap and release the animal. 'If the bat is found in a bedroom, there has been any direct contact with a child, or you cannot rule out exposure to the bat's saliva, call a healthcare provider or RCDHU at 613-732-3629 ext. 505 for advice immediately,' the health unit says. 'Bats have tiny teeth and a bite mark from a bat can be difficult to find.' If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, the health unit recommends you collect the contact information of the animal's owner/custodian where applicable (their name, address and phone number), immediately thoroughly wash all bite or scratch wounds with soap and water, seek immediate medical attention to assess the need for post exposure treatment, and report the incident to the RCDHU at 613-732-3629 ext. 505 The RCDHU says rabies vaccines are highly effective at preventing the disease if administered soon after an exposure.
