Joint Statement Released On BA.2.86 Variant Detected In B.C., First In Canada

The BC Centre for Disease Control has identified British Columbia’s first case of a person infected with a new Omicron variant of the COVID 19 virus.

A joint statement was released on Wednesday, from Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

According to the statement, the individual is from the Fraser Health region and has not travelled outside the province.

It is the first known case in Canada of this variant.

“So far, there does not seem to be increased severity with this strain of COVID and the individual is not hospitalized.”, the statement reads.

“We will continue to monitor the data on this new variant under monitoring, which has been detected around the world, including in the United States. BA.2.86 was first detected in Denmark in July 2023.”

The BA.2.86 variant was found in an individual from the Fraser Health region who has not travelled outside the province. 

It was not unexpected for the new strain to show up in Canada and BC.

The statement says the risk to people in B.C. has not changed, that COVID-19 continues to spread globally, and the virus continues to adapt.

The province says the detection of the subvariant reflects the ongoing data monitoring and surveillance in B.C., including continued testing of people with COVID-19 symptoms and innovative new wastewater surveillance.

Dr. Henry and Minister Dix are urging "all people in B.C. to continue to follow public-health advice and to stay home when sick, wear masks when appropriate, follow respiratory etiquette, wash hands frequently, and, most importantly, stay up to date on your vaccinations.”

To see the full statement, visit Government of British Columbia.