Hepatitis A

• Case counts (2016-2025), population estimates (2016-2023), & population projections (2024-2025): Public Health Ontario.
• Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on March 9, 2026.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• Causes of hepatitis A
• Symptoms of hepatitis A
• Risks of hepatitis A
• Treatment of hepatitis A
• Prevention of hepatitis A
• Surveillance of hepatitis A

Report to the Health Unit immediately by fax (705-482-0670) and phone at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 if hepatitis A is suspected or confirmed as per Ontario Regulation 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O., c.H.7.

After hours, weekends, and holidays, call 705-474-1400 then press 0 to speak with the Answering Service. The on-call CDC Public Health Nurse will get back to you as soon as possible.

Consult with the Health Unit. Exclude from high risk settings for 14 days after onset of symptoms, or 7 days after onset of jaundice, whichever comes earlier.

Follow the direction of your healthcare provider, public health case, or occupational health at your workplace.

Hepatitis A is preventable by vaccination. Check your vaccination records or call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5252 to book a vaccination appointment or to obtain additional information.

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for pre-exposure immunization of persons 6 months of age and older at increased risk of infection or severe Hepatitis A (Canadian Immunization Guide). Refer to the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario for information on high-risk vaccine program eligibility.

Refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Immunization Guide: Hepatitis A Vaccines for additional information on hepatitis A vaccines

There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Vaccination can help prevent Hepatitis A in those exposed to the virus if given within two weeks of exposure (see Post-Exposure Prophylaxis section).

Routine practices are recommended for adults who are hospitalized with Hepatitis A. Contact precautions are recommended for paediatric and incontinent or non-adherent adults.

Serology for hepatitis A should be ordered to confirm the diagnosis, see Public Health Ontario: Hepatitis A – Serology for more information.

Individuals who had exposure to hepatitis A during the time the individual with hepatitis A was infectious may require post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent hepatitis A. In particular those living in the same household, persons who are close non-household contacts such as sexual partners or drug sharing partners, contacts who are food handlers and food establishment patrons if the case is a food handler who worked during the infectious period, day care and institutional attendees or staff (e.g., correctional facilities, institutions for the developmentally disabled, etc.).

Recommended PEP Options for Household and Close Contacts:

• Hepatitis A Vaccine:
  • Healthy children and adults 1-49 years of age
• Immune Globulin:
  • Infants <12 months
• Hepatitis A Vaccine plus Immune Globulin:
  • Healthy adults ≥50 years of age
  • Immunocompromised
  • Chronic liver disease

Refer to Public Health Ontario’s Hepatitis A Post-exposure Prophylaxis for considerations for Childcare settings (including nursery schools and kindergartens) if a case of hepatitis A occurs in these settings. See the Ministry of Health’s Infectious Diseases Protocol Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease-Specific Information, Disease: Hepatitis A for PEP considerations for potential contacts of a hepatitis A case who is a food handler.

PEP is not routinely recommended for school or workplace contacts, or health care workers caring for hepatitis A cases, unless an outbreak is suspected.

Note: Only one dose of hepatitis A vaccine is indicated for PEP efficacy and in Ontario, only one dose is publicly funded for PEP, unless an individual is otherwise eligible for publicly funded vaccine for primary prevention.

Canadian Blood Services

• Clinical guide to transfusion

Public Health Agency of Canada

• For health professionals: Hepatitis A