'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
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING 'Just wait': Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city amid multiple reports
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.