'Small number' of Omicron subvariant cases detected in B.C., officials say
Health officials have confirmed a "very small number" of COVID-19 cases involving a new Omicron subvariant have been found in British Columbia.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the BA.2 sub-lineage was first detected locally about two weeks ago, and the government is monitoring the situation closely as countries around the world gather data on the Omicron descendant.
So far, based on findings out of the U.K., Henry said it appears BA.2 probably has "increased transmissibility," but whether there are any additional differences remains unclear.
"There's still a whole lot we don't know," she said at a news conference Tuesday. "There hasn't been enough of it, certainly not here and not in Canada, to really see any impact."
There have been 51 cases of the BA.2 subvariant confirmed across the country so far, the Public Health Agency of Canada said Wednesday.
In an emailed statement to CTV News, PHAC said it is monitoring BA.2 as it does all new COVID-19 variants, and encouraged the public to continue following the advice of health officials.
"The government of Canada knows that vaccination, in combination with public health and individual measures, is key to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants," PHAC added.
BA.2 has been referred to as "stealthier" than past variants, a reference to changes that might make it more difficult to detect. So far, the World Health Organization has not declared BA.2 a variant of concern.
Encouragingly, Henry suggested the cases identified in British Columbia have not demonstrated a clear competitive advantage over previous iterations of Omicron.
"My lab team has been following it really carefully and we're not seeing it taking over from Omicron, as we saw Omicron take over from Delta, for example," she said.
The provincial health officer noted that regional differences in variants tend to emerge when there is widespread transmission, pointing to the AY.25 and AY.27 versions of Delta that B.C. started tracking last summer.
When it comes to BA.2, time will tell what "the overall impact is going to be, if any," Henry said.
With files from CTVNews.ca's Brooklyn Neustaeter
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.