Health units monitor subvariant

Fifty-one cases of a new Omicron subvariant, known as BA. 2, have been detected in Canada, mainly from international travellers, says the Public Health Agency of Canada.

But it’s too soon to sound the alarms, according to Dr. Rob Kozak, a clinical microbiologist at Sunnybrook Hospital. “There’s no data out right now that suggests (BA. 2) is more virulent or worse (than previous variants). This is the watchful waiting phase.”

The Omicron variant, or B1.1.529, includes descendants BA. 1, BA. 1.1, BA. 2 and BA. 3, according to research from the World Health Organization (WHO) that tracks SARSCoV-2 variants.

The WHO has not labelled BA. 2 as a “variant of concern,” though scientists around the world have been keeping tabs on it. BA. 2 has been detected in at least 40 countries, including the United States, but it appears much more in Asia and Europe.

In Denmark, BA. 2 made up 45 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in mid-January, up from 20 per cent two weeks earlier, according to Statens Serum Institut, which falls under the Danish Ministry of Health.

An initial analysis by scientists in that country shows no difference in hospitalizations for BA. 2 compared with the original Omicron variant. Scientists are still looking into BA. 2’s infectiousness and how well current vaccines and treatments work against it.

“While the impacts of all variants continues to be monitored in Canada, 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 said.

BA. 2 is widely considered stealthier than the original version of Omicron because particular genetic traits make it somewhat harder to detect. Some scientists worry it could also be more contagious.

Still, there are a lot of unknowns, including whether vaccines are less effective against BA. 2 or if it causes more severe symptoms.

Kozak said while vaccinations may have less efficacy in preventing infection from Omicron, they certainly protect against severe disease.