A “super spreader” strain of COVID-19 that devastated South Africa is now in Michigan.
A case of the variant known as B.1.351 was confirmed on Monday, March 8, in a young Jackson resident, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
South Africa’s first Michigan case of COVID-19 variant identified in Jackson County boy
The variant does not make people sicker, but it appears to be about 50% more transmissible than other variants.
Here’s what the Michiganders need to know.
Not the first worrying variant in Michigan
In January, Michigan health officials first identified variant B.1.1.7 in a patient from Ann Arbor. This strain first appeared in the United Kingdom.
On March 8, Michigan identified 516 cases of variant B.1.1.7 in 23 Michigan jurisdictions.
Originally detected in early October 2020 in South Africa, B.1.351 shares some mutations with B.1.1.7.
More than half of the states found variant B.1.1.7 in their patients, and at least 20 states have cases with the South African variant.
This could significantly increase coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
B.1.351 is believed to be more contagious, but there is no indication that it will affect clinical outcomes or the severity of the disease compared to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has been circulating in the United States for months, noted a press release from the MDHHS.
However, a more transmissible variant can infect more people more quickly, leading to more cases overall. So even if people don’t get sick anymore, it would probably result in more hospitalizations and deaths.
The most transmissible variants can also make it difficult to obtain collective immunity. .
“If a virus is more easily transmitted between humans, we have to have a higher percentage of vaccinated humans in the population to stop transmission,” said Dr. Sarah Lyon-Callo, director of the MDHHS Office of Epidemiology and Population Health.
Herd immunity is the point at which a sufficient number of people are vaccinated and / or have natural immunity that the virus disappears.
More likely to cause reinfection among those who have had COVID-19
One of the most worrying aspects of the South African strain is the number of reinfections reported by people who have had COVID-19, which suggests that the natural immunity of the original strain is not effective against B.1.351.
“One of the things they found in South Africa and – in Brazil, they are also seeing this – is that the variants are causing higher levels of reinfection among people who were previously infected,” said Dr. Liam Sullivan, an expert infectious diseases from Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. “So this is another reason to get a vaccine, even if you have already taken COVID-19, because it will significantly increase antibody production.
Current vaccines appear to offer some protection against B.1.351
Scientists are still studying how current vaccines work against variants.
Johnson & Johnson’s new vaccine appears to protect against several variants of the virus, including the South African variant and another that emerged in Brazil.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to produce neutralizing antibodies against B.1.351 when tested on blood samples with the variant. However, antibody production was significantly less than the original COVID-19 strain.
Moderna is ready to start testing a new version of its COVID-19 vaccine, which was specifically designed to target the South African variant. Pfizer is in discussion about developing an updated version of its mRNA vaccine or a booster injection, if necessary.
Duplicate mitigation strategies.
The same strategies that can prevent the transmission of other strains of COVID-19 also work with the variants.
Strains are transmitted in the same way, through droplets and aerosols, says Sullivan. “It is only when people are exposed to it, it seems that it clings more tightly and makes it a little easier to cause infection. I think this reinforces the need to continue wearing your mask, to continue avoiding crowds, to maintain social distance. In fact, this is more important now. “
MDHHS offers these strategies to protect against variants:
- Get vaccinated for COVID-19.
- Wear a mask around other people.
- Stay two meters away from the others.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Ventilate the internal spaces.
In particular, be sure to mask correctly.
The mask is a critical measure in preventing coronavirus, but that means wearing a mask properly with your nose and mouth covered.
It also means using effective masks. Single layer fabric masks are better than nothing, but individuals can get better protection by using disposable medical masks or double or triple layer cloth masks, said Sullivan.
He recommends KN95 medical masks, which are more comfortable and more readily available than N95 masks, but almost as effective.
“I would definitely encourage people to try to get the mask of the highest quality they can,” said Sullivan.
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