Public health has confirmed that the first case of the new Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, has been detected in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The variant is considered to be the most transmissible strain to date, but Public Health says there is no indication at this time that it results in more severe illness.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, says genomic testing done at the local microbiology lab detected the newest strain.

Fitzgerald says the new variant being more transmissible might be the most advantageous situation.

Based on what’s being seen in other countries, Fitzgerald expects that the new variant will become the dominant strain circulating.