A new variant of COVID that is believed to have originated in Brazil has been confirmed in Hawaii.
The state Department of Health said its State Laboratories Division confirmed the presence of the P.2 variant, which it claims contains the E484K mutation, through surveillance tests.
The strain was confirmed in a resident of Oahu who recently traveled to the continent and was asymptomatic, according to the state’s Epidemiologist in office, Dr. Sarah Kemble. This resident is now out of isolation, she said, and so far, no further transmissions have been detected.
State officials said the variant is being watched closely after two people in Brazil who were previously infected with COVID were reinfected with the P.2 variant. However, it is not clear whether this variant is more resistant to vaccines and antibodies acquired through previous COVID infection.
The P.2 variant has also been found in several continental states and in Europe.
People previously vaccinated or previously infected “should not be seriously ill if infected with the P.2 variant,” said the department.
“At the moment, with the investigation, it does not seem that there has been more transmission with this P.2. tension, ”said Dr. Kemble. “This variant was brought in because of travel and there are trips underway, so there will always be that possibility.”
In addition, surveillance tests confirmed three additional cases of variant B.1.1.7 on Oahu, bringing the statewide total to six. All six are on Oahu and are domestic contacts.
In Maui, however, there is growing concern about variant B.1.429, which has been linked to an increase in cases of COVID on the island of Vale.
This variant, formerly called L452R, was first detected in Hawaii about a month ago and gradually became the prevalent strain in California around the time of an outbreak in that state, according to the Director of the State’s Laboratory Division, Edward Desmond.
“So it can become prevalent and it can be associated with a sudden increase in cases,” he said.
A total of 28 cases of variant B.1.429 have been detected in Maui, representing almost half of the cases of this variant in the state so far this year.
There have also been 17 cases of the variant detected on Oahu, four on the island of Hawaii and one on Kauai, so far this year.
In Maui, a mixture of these cases has been linked to a cluster in the correctional environment and also in the community, said Kemble, so it appears that the variant is circulating in the Maui community.
It was first detected in California in December and was found in more than 40 other states.
The strain may be more transmissible than other COVID strains, but it is still under investigation by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is not yet clear how current vaccines are effective against B.1.429.
While Kemble believes the detection of these new variants should be a matter of caution, just as Oahu eases restrictions and moves to Level 3, she believes the reopening structure will work as needed.
The number of daily cases on Oahu is decreasing while vaccination efforts are underway, she said.
“I think the layers are designed in such a way that, if we see the reopening to Layer 3, we are going in the wrong direction, there will be verification and balance,” she said. “So if we see this trend going in the wrong direction, we can adjust to it.”
The mitigation response for the new variants should be the same as for non-variant strains, she said, which includes wearing your mask, taking care of the distance, staying home when you’re sick and washing your hands. Also, get the vaccine when it’s your turn.
The state Department of Health will continue its surveillance for variants in collaboration with private hospitals and independent clinical laboratories.
Currently, about 75 state specimens per week undergo genomic sequencing.