HV.1 and HK.3, first detected in late August, have quickly overtaken other variants, data shows
Nov 28, 2023
Two new COVID-19 variants quickly gaining traction across Canada are already dominant in New Brunswick.
So far, HV.1 and HK.3, related to Omicron EG.5, do not appear to cause more severe disease than other recent variants, said Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.
“But it is also a bit too soon to know,” he said.
HV.1 and HK.3 were first detected in the province in late August and each represent about 14 per cent of confirmed cases sent for sequencing as of late October, according to the volunteer group Protect Our Province New Brunswick (PoP NB), which aims to create easy-to-access information on COVID risks and protection measures.
PoP NB obtained the data through GISAID — an international non-profit project to share genome data on viruses, as contributed by the Vitalité Health Network’s originating lab.