Hepatitis B Variants: Are Canadians Protected?

Hepatitis B virus is common in Canada and is associated with major clinical sequelae.  Measures such as vaccination and detection programs have been widely implemented as means of mitigating the impact of HBV on individuals and on the public's health.  For over a decade, mutant strains of HBV have been reported in countries throughout the world, with the notable exception of Canada.  If certain mutant strains of HBV developed in or were spread to Canada, our existing vaccination and detection programs might not effectively protect Canadians.