With the federal government’s declaration of a hepatitis A outbreak associated with frozen mangoes, the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) announced today that it will offer free hepatitis A vaccination clinics Friday, August 6th and Saturday, August 7th. The clinics are open to those who consumed any of the recalled products in the last two weeks and will be held at the Health Unit’s Citi Plaza offices, located at 355 Wellington Street, Suite 110, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. both days.

Before the declaration of the outbreak on Saturday, July 31st, the federal government first issued a recall notice on Friday, July 30th, for several frozen mango products associated with possible hepatitis A contamination, including:

• Two-kilogram bags of Nature’s Touch frozen mangoes with a best before date of November 9, 2022;
• 600-gram packages of Compliments Mango Mania with best before dates of November 10, 2022 and December 18, 2022;
• 600-gram packages of Irresistibles Mango Chunks, with a best before date of November 10, 2022; and,
• 600-gram packages of President’s Choice Mango Chunks with best before dates of November 6, 2022 and November 10, 2022.

While the vaccine is being offered to anyone who may have consumed affected products within the last 14 days, it can take up to 50 days for hepatitis A symptoms to develop. It is important to note that those who may have eaten affected product in the last 50 days, but not in the last two weeks, will not benefit from vaccination. These individuals should contact their healthcare provider if symptoms develop. They may also call the Health Unit at 519-663-5317, or email health@mlhu.on.ca for further guidance and direction. People who still have any of the products listed above in their freezers should not eat it, but instead discard it right away.

“It’s important that anyone who has consumed these products over the last two weeks attends one of our clinics being held Friday and Saturday, so they can get the protection they need to prevent hepatitis A,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “The vaccine can prevent the onset of hepatitis symptoms and infections, but only if it is given in the 14 days following an exposure.”

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada and provincial public health partners are collaborating on the outbreak investigation, after infections were reported in Québec and Nova Scotia. Based on investigation findings to date, exposure to frozen mangoes has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak.

For more information about the recall, visit the CFIA’s website. For more information about hepatitis A including symptoms, visit www.healthunit.com/diseases-hepatitis.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 of 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit