In a concerning development for British Columbia’s coastal communities, health authorities have issued an urgent public health alert after confirming a hepatitis A outbreak connected to a popular food truck in Gibsons. The exposure incident has prompted officials to launch an immediate vaccination campaign for potentially affected customers who dined at the establishment between mid-April and early May.
Vancouver Coastal Health officials announced yesterday that an employee of the food truck tested positive for the virus, potentially exposing hundreds of patrons to hepatitis A—a highly contagious liver infection that can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization. While authorities have not released the name of the specific food truck, they are directly contacting customers whose information was available through payment records.
“The window for effective post-exposure vaccination is narrow—approximately 14 days from potential exposure,” explained Dr. Emily Chen, regional medical health officer. “Those who consumed food from this establishment between April 15 and May 2 should immediately seek medical advice regarding vaccination options, especially if they haven’t previously been immunized against hepatitis A.”
Health officials have established temporary vaccination clinics in Gibsons Community Centre to accommodate the surge in demand for preventive treatment. The clinics will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the weekend, with additional capacity added as needed.
Hepatitis A spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water, or through close contact with an infected person. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, symptoms typically develop 15 to 50 days after exposure and may include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
“This incident underscores the critical importance of food safety protocols and proper hygiene practices in food service establishments,” said Jason Williams, a food safety specialist with the BC Centre for Disease Control. “It also highlights why regular health inspections and worker health screenings are essential safeguards for public health.”
The outbreak has raised concerns among Gibsons’ tourism-dependent business community, which was anticipating a strong summer season after several challenging years. Mayor Jennifer Cook expressed support for affected businesses while emphasizing public safety.
“While this is undoubtedly concerning for our community and visitors, we’re working closely with health authorities to ensure this situation is contained quickly and effectively,” Cook stated during an emergency town meeting. “Our local economy depends on visitors feeling safe when they come to Gibsons.”
This incident mirrors similar outbreaks in North America over the past year, including a high-profile case in Seattle where a chain restaurant was linked to 73 hepatitis A infections, resulting in 17 hospitalizations.
Health officials are urging anyone who consumed food from any Gibsons food truck in recent weeks and is experiencing symptoms consistent with hepatitis A to seek immediate medical attention and avoid preparing food for others. They also recommend that individuals who may have been exposed but remain asymptomatic contact healthcare providers regarding vaccination options.
As this situation continues to unfold, a critical question emerges for communities across Canada: How can we better balance the growing popularity of mobile food services with the unique public health challenges they present in preventing and tracking foodborne illness outbreaks?
