A patient in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is the first confirmed case of a more contagious coronavirus variant that has fueled an aggressive spread and forced a national blockade in the UK.
The variant, B.1.1.7 has not been shown to have different symptoms or cause more severe symptoms in patients, experts said, although warning that much is still unknown about it. The United States recorded its first case of the variant in Colorado last week, in a young man who had no travel history. Other cases have emerged in California, New York and Florida. The man infected with the virus variant in Florida also had no travel history.
Mutations in this variant of the coronavirus appear to allow easier spread.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said in a statement that the patient in Dauphin County tested positive after international exposure and is fine after only having mild symptoms. Contact trackers found, identified and monitoring contacts close to the patient.
Frederic Bushman, a microbiologist at Penn Medicine, told NBC10 that the genetic sequencing work showed what makes the British variant of the virus different from other known versions.
The UK variant has mutations that alter the spike protein, which the virus uses to invade human cells in an infection.
“There has been a lot of discussion and some evidence that perhaps this virus is a little better for landing on human cells and entering them as a result of that,” said Bushman.
(The current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines help the body prepare to counteract these spikes and must also work against this variant.)
The state has been sending 10 to 35 random samples to the CDC every two weeks since November. The CDC and some specialized laboratories, including Bushman, are able to sequence the genetic code of a virus sample to determine whether it is the variant.
The lab has sequenced about 7,500 genomes so far, or 50 a week. Looking at the genetic code of so many different samples of the virus helped to understand how it spread in the pandemic, Bushman explained.
With the arrival of the first wave in March and April 2020, patient samples from Philadelphia at that time had genetic code similar to the versions of the virus seen in New York, he said.
Sequencing can also show whether an outbreak may have occurred. For example, if a group of patients exhibits the same genetic version of the virus, they are likely to have contracted in the same place.
The lab has yet to confirm a case of a UK strain in Philadelphia, but it may show up as they continue their work. The laboratory is limited more by the volume of samples it receives than by the ability to test them, according to Bushman.
“If it is really the case that it is more widespread, which seems likely, I think we will see it in Philadelphia. It is probably already here and we have not yet identified it,” Bushman said.
“If there are a lot of different variants and they infect people, and one spreads a little more in one generation, then it’s more represented, then in the next generation it spreads a little more. There are more people it’s launching from, and then is a larger proportion. “
Earlier this week, Philadelphia health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley also said he would not be surprised if he were found in our area.
Authorities said they would continue to emphasize safety after seeing the case for the variant.
“There is still a lot to learn about this new variant, so we need to remain vigilant and continue to encourage the inhabitants of Pennsylvania to stop the spread by washing their hands, practicing social detachment and avoiding meetings,” said Levine.