Massachusetts health officials on Sunday announced the state’s first known case of the most contagious coronavirus variant initially detected in the UK, known as B.1.1.7.
The mutated strain was detected in a woman in Boston in her 20s who traveled to the UK, according to a statement from the public health department.
Although the woman’s test was negative before leaving the UK, she fell ill the day after her arrival in the United States and later tested positive. The CDC currently requires passengers traveling from the UK to the USA to report negative results from the COVID-19 test within three days of travel. (As of January 26, all international passengers flying to the United States must provide the same, according to the CDC.) The statement does not specify when the woman was tested.
Contact trackers interviewed the woman and identified her close contacts, according to the statement from the health department.
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“The individual developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19,” says the statement released on Sunday. “A genetic sample was sent to an out-of-state laboratory as part of the surveillance process established by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify variants of COVID-19. The State Public Health Laboratory was notified at last night about the results. “
Health officials are interviewing the woman again, and surveillance for variants is ongoing at the state’s public health laboratory.
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Massachusetts joins 14 other states in the country that have previously reported cases of the coronavirus variant in the United Kingdom. The data compiled by the CDC lists at least 88 cases of the variant, excluding the case recently reported in Massachusetts. This strain is believed to be about 50% to 70% more contagious, but is not believed to cause more serious illness or death. Recently approved vaccines are believed to remain effective against the strain.
“Given the greater transmissibility of this variant and the number of states and other countries that have found infected cases, the Department expected the variant to eventually reach Massachusetts,” the statement continues.
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Health officials have recommended wearing a mask, staying away from home, staying home when sick, and getting tested to reduce the risk of additional infections. Massachusetts reported 4,283 new coronavirus infections on January 17, contributing to a total of 448,311 cases. There are 13,372 reported deaths and more than 2,100 people hospitalized in the state due to the new virus.
Younger populations (0-19, 20-29) are responsible for the highest number of new infections.