Minnesota health officials over the weekend identified five cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the UK, adding to the growing list of states that confirmed cases of the mutation and raising concerns that the variant is likely to be widespread already. the country.
The UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, was “identified by genomic sequencing in positive samples from five residents of four different counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area,” Minnesota Department of Health officials said in a statement to the press on Saturday, which noted that four of the cases were identified by state health officials, while the fifth was identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
None of the cases, ranging from 15 to 37 years old, have been hospitalized, said the state health department. The onset of the disease occurred in mid-December, from 16 to 31 December, according to the press release.
At least two of the cases have recently traveled abroad, although it is unclear where. One case has had no recent travel, while the others have an “unknown” travel history, state health officials said.
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Health department epidemiologists “are re-interviewing the cases to gather more information about how they were likely exposed and who their close contacts were. The investigation continues,” officials said.
The B.1.1.7 mutation was first discovered in the UK several weeks ago, but has since appeared in a number of US states, including Colorado, where it was first identified in the country, as well as in New York, California, Florida , Georgia and Pennsylvania, among others.
Last week, the CDC said more than 50 cases of the mutated coronavirus strain were identified in the U.S.
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The strain is considered more transmissible than COVID-19. At the moment, however, experts seem confident that existing coronavirus vaccines will work against the variant.
Minnesota state epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield said in a statement that officials were “hoping to find the virus [variant]”in the state.
“Knowing you’re here now doesn’t change our current public health recommendations,” she added.
“Although it is believed to be more easily transmitted from one person to another, it has not been found to cause more serious illness,” continued Lynfield. “With RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it is not unexpected that new strains will emerge more successfully.”
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“This virus makes it really difficult for people to know if they or the person close to them is infected – whether this strain or another strain – then we all need to do our part to protect ourselves and each other,” added the Director of Infectology. Minnesota Disease Kris Ehresmann in a statement.
So far, employees from Pfizer and BioNTech – the companies whose COVID-19 vaccine candidate has proven highly effective in end-stage clinical trials and was the first injection to see US Food and Drug Administration emergency approval – have expressed confidence in their ability to protect against tension while also proclaiming the flexibility of the technology, should an adjustment be necessary.