While there is nothing to indicate that the Indian variant B. 1.617 is not widespread in Montreal, this is not the case for the Brazilian and South African variants which now seem to nourish community transmission in various settings in the metropolis.
At least this is what the Montreal Public Health Department notes, whose latest survey reports in one week a jump of nearly 30 cases of the Brazilian variant P.1, from 60 to 88 cases in the metropolis since the 7th. may. The province has recorded a total increase of more than 30% of cases in 7 days (from 154 to 251), concentrated in the metropolis, Montérégie, the Laurentians and the Outaouais.
According to Dr. Sarah-Amélie Mercure, Interim Medical Chief of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Sector at the DSP de Montréal, it is clear that this variant causes “atypical” outbreaks, with high attack rates, particularly in people living under the same roof.
The Brazilian variant has already burst into various work and living environments in the metropolis, in particular at the residence for independent seniors (RPA) Manoir Outremont, where it is suspected of being involved in the death of 4 residents who did not ‘had still not received their 2nd dose.In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
The first cases detected in Montreal stemmed from travelers, but “here we have community transmission without being able to identify a traveler as the source. This tells us that we are not able to control external introductions, ”she says. While a mandatory isolation period is imposed on certain passengers on international flights, this is not the case for travelers from domestic flights.
At the origin of recent outbreaks in Alberta and British Columbia, the Brazilian variant, considered 50 to 60% more contagious than the traditional strain of the virus, has now become predominant in the latter province.
“There is transmission. If we do not pay attention to non-essential travel, we will end up with more variants before reaching collective immunity, ”warns this doctor. But all in all, she says, we do not yet see “explosive waves” linked to P. 1 and the outbreaks are being followed very closely.
Detected on March 10, Quebec’s first cases of the P. 1 variant are believed to come from travelers returning from Toronto or the ski resort of Whistler, British Columbia, where an outbreak raged in late March. As of the beginning of April, this province had the largest outbreak of the P. 1 variant outside Brazil, more than 800 cases.
A month later, it now counts more than 4,400 cases. Alberta follows with more than 2,200 cases and Ontario with nearly 2,000 cases, the latest statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada says.
The P. 1 variant was detected for the first time in the city of Manaus in Brazil where it quickly became the predominant strain. It would be more infectious and potentially more resistant to certain vaccines. “With the vaccines we have, we do not expect serious illness or death, but imperfect protection,” said Dr. Mercury.
3 to 5 week lead times
As for the variant of Indian origin 1.617, so far presumed to be more transmissible than B. 1.1.7 originating in the United Kingdom, the metropolis would have 5 cases among the 11 confirmed last Friday by sequencing, indicates Dr. Mercury.
“All of our confirmed cases are linked to a return trip,” she said. However, these cases reflect the epidemiological reality of 3 to 5 weeks ago, which is the time required to confirm this strain by sequencing.
“We are a little blind when it comes to community transmission in real time. For the moment, the B. 1.617 variant escapes our screening methods. But there are no other signals telling us that this Indian lineage is on the rise in the metropolis, ”says Dr. Mercury.
If these variants were to gain ground, as is the case in the United Kingdom, with the variant of Indian origin, “it is certain that [ce serait] worrying, ”she adds. “When you have a more transmissible variant, you have to achieve more extensive vaccination coverage and maintain health measures longer. What we’ve seen in the UK, in some areas, is that this variant is dislodging the UK variant. It gives us an idea of what could happen here, ”she said.
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