A COVID-19 VARIANT LINKED TO SURGING CASE NUMBERS IN INDIA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN B.C. A MINISTRY OF HEALTH OFFICIAL SAYS THAT 39 CASES OF THE DOUBLE MUTATION KNOWN AS B.1.617 HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE PROVINCE.
A COVID-19 variant linked to record-breaking case numbers in India has been identified in B.C.
In a prepared statement, a B.C. Ministry of Health official said that 39 cases of the double mutation known as B.1.617 had been found in the province.
These cases were identified at the beginning of April but were not reported because “at the time, B.1.617 had not been identified as a variant of concern or variant under investigation,” the spokesperson said.
“B.C. was able to identify this lineage through whole genome sequencing. This is why B.C. has recently changed its surveillance strategy to ensure there is lab capacity to identify new and emerging variants.”
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has now classified B.1.617 as a “variant of interest” and its public health lab is reviewing genetic sequencing information and linking that to case details.
The Health Ministry is expected to make more information available at the end of this week, including the number and nature of the B.1.617 cases identified so far.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the news of the variant's arrival was “concerning” and that the B.C. government had some issues with the implementation of the federal government's quarantine program.
“We think more can be done with respect to ensuring that the quarantine is not only enforced, but people are supported in what can be a very challenging time,” Dix said.
There have been at least 10 flights arrive in Vancouver from Delhi, India, since April 6 with Covid-infected people on board.
Quebec also reported Canada's first case of B.1.617 on Wednesday.
According to Bloomberg, the new variant was initially detected in India with two separate mutations and one of those mutations (L452R) is characterized in U.S studies to increase viral transmission by around 20 per cent and reduce antibody efficacy by more than 50 per cent.
Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are debating limiting flights from India, as jurisdictions including the U.K, New Zealand and Hong Kong are doing.
“We are continuing to look at more and I have asked our officials to look carefully at, for example, what the U.K. has done very recently on suspending flights from India,” Trudeau said Tuesday.
Researchers are trying to determine whether B.1.617 is more deadly than other concerning variants. Evidence suggests that variants first identified in Brazil and South Africa are more transmissible — spreading easily and quickly — and are taking over in B.C.
The provincial health officer reported seven deaths and 862 new cases of COVID-19 over the past day. Dr. Bonnie Henry provided no information on the three variants of concern circulating in B.C., or the B.1.167 variant of interest.