Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) announced on Saturday that the state had detected its first case of coronavirus caused by the variant first identified in South Africa.
Hogan said the presence of the variant was confirmed by the Maryland Department of Health in consultation with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The case involves an adult living in the Baltimore metropolitan area who has not traveled internationally, increasing the chances of community transmission of the mutant virus.
“State health officials are closely monitoring variant B.1.351 of SARS-CoV-2 in the state,” said Hogan. “We strongly encourage Marylanders to exercise extra caution to limit the additional risk of transmission associated with this variant. Continue to practice standard public health and safety measures, including wearing a mask, regular hand washing and physical distance. ”
Health officials warned of the spread of the variant. Although there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the South African variant causes more serious illnesses, it appears to be more contagious and resistant to some vaccines.
The first case of the South African variant to be detected in the United States was found in South Carolina on Thursday.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have assured the public that their vaccines are still effective against the mutation.
Experts say the spread of the South African variant and other mutations found in Brazil and the UK only reinforces the need for widespread vaccinations so that the possibility of mutating the virus as it spreads is reduced.