First cases of Delta sublineage AY.4.2 confirmed in British Columbia
British Columbia has confirmed its first cases of AY.4.2, the descendent of the Delta COVID-19 variant linked to a growing number of infections in the United Kingdom.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the three AY.4.2 cases on Tuesday, noting the sublineage has not yet been categorized as a "variant of concern" and much remains to be known about its effect on the population.
"We are continuing to follow the whole genome sequencing and making sure we're aware of what strains are being transmitted here in British Columbia," Henry said.
All three of the confirmed cases are linked to one family that was exposed at the same time.
AY.4.2 accounted for just over 11 per cent of the U.K.'s Delta cases during the week of Oct. 17, according to the latest available data, but health officials have not determined whether its spread is the result of biological differences.
The B.C. government is also monitoring AY.4.2 to determine whether the descendent causes more severe illness or shows more resistance to the approved COVID-19 vaccines, Henry said.
Early indications out of the U.K. suggest it does not impact the efficacy of vaccines.
B.C. is also continuing to track two other Delta mutations, AY.25 and AY.27, which were first detected in the province back in June and now account for about two-thirds of local cases.
"The strains of the Delta variant that we've seen are spreading much faster and causing more severe illness in younger people, and that remains the same," Henry said. "And our best defence continues to be being vaccinated."
The provincial health officer noted that COVID-19, like any virus, will continue mutating the more opportunities it has to spread to new hosts.
"There are now about 120 different sublineages of the Delta strain of the virus around the world," Henry said.
"Development of these new lineages, which are unique to geographic areas, are really expected over time when we have ongoing transmission in our communities."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Loblaw agrees to sign grocery code of conduct after months of negotiations
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. said Thursday it's ready to sign on to the grocery code of conduct, paving the way for an agreement that's been years in the making.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Kidnapped by her father and kept in a crawl space: Court documents reveal Montreal horror story
A Montreal father who kidnapped his daughter who has autism and lied to police when they asked where she was should serve three years in prison, a Crown prosecutor said.
Pierre Poilievre presses Justin Trudeau for summer pause on carbon and fuel taxes
To give Canadians a break on their summer road trips, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend all gas and diesel taxes from Victoria Day to Labour Day.
Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes
A medical examiner says a Massachusetts teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge died from ingesting a substance 'with a high capsaicin concentration.'
Ontario's so-called 'Crypto King' soliciting investments as recently as February: police
Police are alleging that Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ Aiden Pleterski was soliciting investments as recently as February – almost two years after he was petitioned into bankruptcy for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
Noticed a new payment? Some Canadians get first carbon rebate
Many Canadians found a message from the Canada Revenue Agency this week as they received their first direct deposit for the Canada Carbon Rebate.
Drones smuggled drugs across Niagara River into U.S., 3 suspects caught in New York
A smuggling operation used drones to fly drugs across the Niagara River from Canada into upstate New York, using a newly purchased US$630,000 house along the river as a drop point, according to a criminal complaint unsealed this week.
Protecting your car from the growing risk of keyless vehicle thefts
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. But that technology also makes things easier for thieves.