First case of COVID variant detected in Michigan: what to know

The first case of a variant of COVID-19 that is believed to be more contagious was detected in Michigan over the weekend.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials announced on Saturday, January 16 that a adult woman living in Washtenaw County has contracted a new variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.1.7.

Officials say she recently traveled to the UK, where the variant was first identified, and recently sent part of that country to a strict block to help stem the spread of the virus. Two additional positive cases of COVID have been identified between close contacts with the woman from Washtenaw County, but it is not clear whether these two individuals are also infected with the virus variant.

Although this is the first detected instance of the variant, it is very likely that it has been spreading across the state and the United States for months.

It is estimated that variant B.1.1.7 emerged in September 2020 and quickly became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in circulation in England, the CDC says.

On January 13, 2021, approximately 76 cases of B.1.1.7 were detected in 10 US states. Several lines of evidence indicate that B.1.1.7 is transmitted more efficiently than other variants of SARS-CoV-2, CDC reports.

EXPLANATOR: Scientists trying to understand a new variant of the virus

The modeled CDC The trajectory of this variant in the USA predicts rapid growth in early 2021, becoming the predominant variant in March. Increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can threaten depleted health resources, require a more extensive and rigorous implementation of public health strategies and increase the percentage of population immunity needed to control the pandemic.

It is impossible to know for sure. But the spread of this variant in other countries has caused a huge increase in hospitalizations and deaths, leading to stricter blocking measures, especially in the UK

The CDC says that taking measures to reduce transmission now can lessen the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and allow for critical time to increase vaccination coverage.

“Collectively, enhanced genomic surveillance combined with continued compliance with effective public health measures, including vaccination, physical distance, wearing masks, hand hygiene and isolation and quarantine, will be essential to limit dissemination,” reports the CDC.

Since January 18, in Michigan, hospitalizations, case growth and test positivity are near their lowest point in several weeks, and the state is reopening some business areas with plans to reopen more in February.

Existing and future vaccines are believed to be able to deal with this and other variants of COVID-19. Earlier this month, research suggested Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may protect against variant B.1.1.7, specifically.

The study was preliminary and did not consider the two other major vaccines being used in the West – Moderna and AstraZeneca. But it was comforting, given the doubts about whether the virus could mutate to defeat the shots in which the world pinned its hopes.

“There is no reason to think that vaccines will not work as well with these strains,” said Dr. Frederic Bushman of the University of Pennsylvania, who tracks the virus mutation. “A mutation will change a small place, but it will not disrupt the connection to all of them.”

Yes. That’s what viruses do! That’s how they survived billions of years.

According to an article published in Journal of Virology, about 8% of human DNA comes from viruses inserted in our genomes in the distant past, in many cases in the genomes of our prehuman ancestors millions of years ago. Most of these viral genes come from retroviruses, RNA viruses that insert DNA copies of their own genes into our genomes when they infect cells.

Viruses constantly change through mutations and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time.

The best thing you can do is get vaccinated. If you are eligible for vaccination now, contact your local health department or hospital system to find options.

If you are not yet qualified for vaccination, you know the procedure here:

• Wear a mask around other people.

• Stay 6 feet away from the others.

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Ventilate the internal spaces.

“The discovery of this variant in Michigan is worrying, but not unexpected,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS medical director and deputy head of health. “We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as quickly as possible. We continue to urge the Michiganders to follow a research-based approach using their masks appropriately, socially distancing themselves, avoiding crowds, washing their hands frequently and making a plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective as soon as it is yours turn. “

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