SAINT BERNARDINO, California (VVNG.com) – The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was notified by the California Department of Public Health today that two cases of the most contagious B117 strain of the new coronavirus have been detected in San Bernardino County.
The variant strain is currently prevalent in London and southeastern England and the detection of the B117 strain is not unexpected. Multiple variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.
These cases were among the results collected from family members in the Big Bear area on December 20. A family member had contact with a traveler who returned from the UK on December 11 and started to show symptoms on December 14.
“Based on the information currently available, we know that the strain of variant B117 appears to spread more easily and quickly,” said Dr. Michael Sequeira, county health officer. “Therefore, following all safety practices is more important than ever.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that travelers avoid all travel to high-risk areas, including the United Kingdom: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map- and-travel -notices.html.
Currently, there is no evidence that these variants cause more serious illness or an increased risk of death, and no indication that vaccines are less effective against this strain.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on the new variants of COVID-19.