MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) – Wisconsin state health officials say another variant of the COVID-19 virus has been found in Wisconsin. The South African variant, known as B.1.351, is more contagious and spreads faster than the original COVID-19 virus.
Health officials still do not know whether the South African variant is more dangerous or whether the risk of severe symptoms of COVID-19 is the same.
This is the second variant of the COVID-19 virus to be confirmed in Wisconsin. On Thursday, Deputy Health Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said there were 19 confirmed cases of the UK variant in Wisconsin – that number rose to 26 on Friday. She said this is a conservative number because a small fraction of coronavirus cases undergo genome tests to determine the strain of the virus.
The Department of Health Services says the discovery demonstrates the need to remain vigilant against the coronavirus with the use of a mask, hand washing and social detachment. Health officials say preliminary evidence suggests that the Modern vaccine is less effective against the South African variant, but that is inconclusive.
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