Public Health Notices

Public Health Notices and Communicable Disease Notifications that are received from the community will be posted on this page. If you have received notification of an exposure to a communicable disease, or believe you may have been exposed, please follow the instructions posted/received on the notice or contact your local public health unit/local health authority communicable disease team.

Vancouver Coastal Health issued an announcement, warning of possible exposure

On May 12, a public notification was issued about a possible exposure to Hepatitis A for people who dined at McDonald’s restaurant (3695 Lougheed Hwy, Vancouver) on the following dates and times:

April 19, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
April 21, 2023 – 12:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
April 23, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
April 26, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
April 27, 2023 – 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
April 28, 2023 – 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 29, 2023 – 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
April 30, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
May 2, 2023 – 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
May 4, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
May 8, 2023 – 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
May 9, 2023 – 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Getting immunized with one dose of Hepatitis A vaccine can help to prevent infection if given within two weeks of exposure.

Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health recommend immunization with Hepatitis A vaccine for anyone who dined at this restaurant from April 29 – May 9 during the potential exposure times noted above.

A free dose of Hepatitis A vaccine is available for those who are eligible. You can receive the vaccines at any of the clinics noted below, regardless of where you live.

If you live within the Fraser Health region:

Immunization clinics are available at the Guildford (Surrey) Public Health Unit and Burnaby Public Health Unit

Monday to Friday (May 15 to May 19) from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday to Monday (May 20 to 22) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Call 778-368-0123 to book an appointment.

If you live within the Vancouver Coastal Health region, please visit https://www.vch.ca/en/press-release/hepatitis-notification-mcdonalds-restaurant-3695-lougheed-hwy-vancouver to find local pharmacies offering vaccine appointments.

Those who are outside the lower mainland should contact their local Public Health unit.

The vaccine may also be available through your local pharmacy – please call to confirm availability.

Those who have previously been infected with Hepatitis A, or those who received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine prior to the exposure event are considered protected. If this applies to you, no further action is required.

Although the risk of transmission to the public is low, anyone who consumed food at this restaurant during this time period should monitor themselves for symptoms of Hepatitis A, which can take two to seven weeks to develop after exposure and last for about two months.

Symptoms include:

Feeling very tired
Feeling sick to your stomach and not feeling hungry
Losing weight without trying
Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is)
Fever
Sore muscles
Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine and clay-coloured stools

If you have early symptoms of Hepatitis A it is very important to see your health care provider. In most cases, the infection goes away on its own and does not lead to long-term liver problems. In rare cases, it can be more serious.

More information about the hepatitis A vaccine can be found on HealthLinkBC.

Individuals who are concerned they may have been exposed and have questions can visit Hepatitis A | HealthLink BC, call 811 or speak to their primary care provider.

Hepatitis A vaccine locations

Read the VCH Notice