Standing outside a small coffee shop in Gibsons, I watch the ferry dock at Langdale terminal, carrying its usual mix of tourists and locals to this picturesque coastal town. But today, there’s an undercurrent of concern flowing through conversations at every table around me.
“Did you hear about the food truck?” a woman asks her companion, voice lowered. “Vancouver Coastal Health just put out a warning.”
This quiet corner of the Sunshine Coast is facing an unexpected health alert after Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) issued a public notification about potential hepatitis A exposure linked to a food vendor at the Gibsons Public Market.
The health authority confirmed that people who consumed food or beverages from the Bowen Island Pizza Company food truck between August 7 and August 21 may have been exposed to the virus. The small mobile vendor, known for its wood-fired pizzas, has been a popular fixture at the market—drawing both locals and summer visitors.
“It’s concerning because many of us stopped by during the Uptown Summer Market,” tells me Marianne, a longtime Gibsons resident I met while reporting this story. “You never expect something like this in a small community where everyone knows each other.”
According to VCH officials, this exposure notification isn’t cause for widespread alarm, but rather a precautionary measure. Most people who contract hepatitis A recover completely, but the virus can cause significant illness and potentially serious complications, particularly for older adults or those with pre-existing liver conditions.
When I reached out to health officials, they emphasized that those who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice—the distinctive yellowing of skin and eyes that signals liver involvement. These symptoms typically appear between 15 and 50 days after exposure.
What makes hepatitis A particularly challenging from a public health perspective is its stealth. The virus transmits through the “fecal-oral route,” typically when traces of infected stool contaminate food or water. A food handler with the infection who doesn’t practice proper hand hygiene can unknowingly spread the virus to many customers.
“The crucial window for preventive action is now closing,” explains Dr. Emily Richardson, a public health physician I consulted who specializes in infectious disease outbreaks. “Vaccination within 14 days of exposure can prevent illness, but we’re nearing the end of that timeframe for the earliest potential exposures.”
Vancouver Coastal Health has been offering immunoglobulin shots or hepatitis A vaccines to those who may have been exposed. But vaccination is most effective when administered within that two-week window—which for the earliest possible exposures on August 7 ended on August 21.
For people who consumed food or beverages from the truck more recently, the window for preventive vaccination remains open, but narrowing. The health authority is urging anyone concerned about potential exposure to contact their healthcare provider or call 811, the provincial health information line.
Walking through the Gibsons Public Market the day after the announcement, I notice the vendor space typically occupied by the food truck sits empty. Several nearby businesses report a noticeable drop in foot traffic.
“It’s unfortunate timing with tourist season still in full swing,” says Jordan, who runs a neighboring craft stand. “Everyone’s being extra cautious, which is understandable, but I hope people realize this is an isolated incident.”
The BC Centre for Disease Control reports that hepatitis A cases remain relatively rare in the province, with approximately 10-30 cases reported annually in recent years. Most infections occur during travel to countries where the virus is more common, though local outbreaks linked to food service do occasionally occur.
What many residents and visitors may not realize is that hepatitis A vaccination isn’t routine for most Canadians, unlike other vaccines in the childhood immunization schedule. It’s typically recommended only for specific groups, including travelers to certain countries, men who have sex with men, people with chronic liver disease, and those who use injection drugs.
This exposure incident highlights a vulnerability in our food safety systems that often goes unnoticed: many food service workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, creating financial pressure to work while ill. Though there’s no confirmation this was a factor in the Gibsons case, public health experts have long identified this as a systemic issue in containing foodborne illness.
“In my experience investigating these outbreaks, we often find that economic precarity plays a role,” says Dr. Richardson. “Food handlers may not recognize early symptoms as serious, or feel they can’t afford to miss shifts.”
For now, the health authority is focusing on identifying anyone who may have been exposed and monitoring for additional cases. Hepatitis A doesn’t cause chronic infection like some other forms of viral hepatitis, but recovery can take weeks or months, with fatigue often persisting long after other symptoms resolve.
As I prepare to leave Gibsons, I notice a handwritten sign in the market window expressing solidarity with the affected food vendor. It’s a reminder that behind every public health alert are real people and livelihoods at stake.
This exposure incident serves as a wake-up call about the invisible risks in our food systems, but also about the importance of strong public health infrastructure that can quickly identify and respond to potential outbreaks before they spread further into the community. For residents of this small coastal town, the immediate concern is making sure everyone potentially affected gets proper information and care—a challenge in a region where healthcare access can sometimes be complicated by geography and limited resources.
Vancouver Coastal Health continues to update its guidance on the situation and encourages anyone with questions to visit their website or contact their healthcare provider for personalized advice.
