DHS launches web page with variant data
MADISON, Wisconsin – A year ago, the coronavirus pandemic turned everyone’s life upside down. The coronavirus is now inverting the script again in the form of variants.
States like Michigan, Minnesota and Florida are seeing a significant increase in variant cases.
This week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched a new web page with data specific to coronavirus variants in the state. On Friday, DHS reported the first case of a third variant strain, P.1, which originated outside Brazil.
DHS and laboratory partners have detected a new variant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in Wisconsin….
Posted by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Friday, March 26, 2021
Cases of variant B.1.1.7 outside the United Kingdom and B.1.351 outside South Africa had already been reported in the state. On Friday afternoon, Wisconsin identified 78 cases of the UK variant and two cases of the South African variant.
This represents only a fraction of the actual number of variant cases across the state. A small percentage of coronavirus samples are subjected to genome sequencing to determine whether they are variants. In Dane County, about 5% of the samples are sequenced.
“This is more than most other places in Wisconsin,” said Brittany Grogan, data analyst at Public Health Madison & Dane County.
She said that less than 20 cases in Dane County have been identified as variant strains, estimated to be anywhere from 1 to 24% of the total cases, although it is difficult to obtain a precise range. The PHMDC reports that variants are not likely to be prevalent in the county. If they become more common, however, this can increase the herd’s immunity limit in the county and therefore the speed with which restrictions will be loosened.
“We know that B.1.1.7 in particular is more transmissible,” said Grogan. “There are some concerns that lethality may also increase slightly.”
“We know that these variants are particularly infectious and we are seeing in some places younger people suffering from higher levels of infection,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk. “So we are looking at the number of cases very, very closely.”
Grogan said that variants are likely to continue to increase as long as there is COVID-19, which means that everyone must maintain the same precautions, such as distance and masking.
DHS is warning against spring break travel.
“We don’t want to bring variants to Wisconsin that can spread to other people when you return, who are still susceptible,” said Willems Van Dijk. “We need to increase these vaccine levels a little more before we risk bringing more diseases to our state, which will increase the risk for those who have not yet been vaccinated.”
While it is not known how effective vaccines are against variants, Grogan said it is likely to still provide good protection.
“We have almost 90% of our population over 65 with at least one dose of vaccine, so even if we get a higher proportion of B.1.1.7 circulating in our community, this will not translate into an increase in hospitalizations and deaths ”, Grogan said.
DHS is working with the Wisconsin State Hygiene Laboratory and other partners to expand sequencing to identify variants.
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