Canada in ‘better shape’ than predicted in face of XBB.1.5, expert suggests
Global News
The potential for a rise in infections and reinfections from the new COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 in Canada appears to be in the 'rearview mirror,' according to one expert.
The potential for a rise in infections and reinfections from the new COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 appears to be in the “rearview mirror,” according to one expert.
University of Toronto epidemiologist Prabhat Jha told Global News that he is “cautiously optimistic” as the variant nicknamed “Kraken” doesn’t appear to be leading to a big increase in hospitalizations.
“If (XBB.1.5) causes reinfections in people or new infections in the uninfected, then we could have a problem,” he said. “But if that were going to happen, it should have happened by now.
“I’m cautiously optimistic it’s mostly in the rearview mirror.”
While infection data is not as compressive as at the beginning of the pandemic due to governments not participating in active collection anymore, Jha said that wastewater indications have been encouraging, based on patterns he is seeing and what has happened in the past.
XBB.1.5 is essentially the “niece or nephew” of the main Omicron strains, such as BA.4 and BA.5, that were circulating in August and onward, Jha said. Its symptoms are flu-like, similar to Omicron, but do not seem to include the earlier COVID symptom of loss of smell.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s top doctor, said earlier in January that it does not appear XBB.1.5 has more severe symptoms. However, the World Health Organization has said XBB.1.5 is the “most transmissible” variant so far.
Jha attributes the better-than-expected outlook on “hybrid immunity” from people both getting infected with COVID-19 and receiving vaccination. He said this has created an “immunity wall” that has been more effective than experts had previously hoped.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Alberta has surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases, after 30 new cases were diagnosed over the weekend to bring the province's total to 1,314 cases.
CEO Shou Chew said the company would soon have to fire more than 350 employees in Canada, stop its direct investment in Canada and cut support for Canadian creators and culture.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued heat warnings and thunderstorm watches for parts of the province, as well as a thunderstorm warning for Stirling, Tweed and Madoc.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino posted a positive message Wednesday about her tenure at the company formerly known as Twitter and said the "best is yet to come."
Wildfires in parts of the western United States have forced evacuations at several national parks, including that of the Grand Canyon.
Nova Scotia’s provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says 84 people have gotten sick since April, and there have now been nine hospitalizations.
The Siksika Nation says it's about more than just environmental concerns, saying development of the area would put its culture at risk.
United Nations officials warn that if the funding isn’t replaced, it could lead to more than four million AIDS-related deaths and six million more HIV infections by 2029.
Canada's Natural Resources Minister, Tim Hodgson, said that Ottawa has not been presented yet with any private sector plan to build a new oil pipeline to the west coast.
Out of the roughly 540 people with Fabry in Canada, the researcher says about 100 are in Nova Scotia.
A B.C. research and conservation group has crafted a new free course aimed at helping protect whales by educating boaters about laws and safety.
PHAC officials will continue to visit Oxaro's VISP offices “on short notice and in-person to ensure that performance standards are met,”a confidential source told Global News.