First case of COVID variant detected in Michigan: what you need to know

The first case of a variant of COVID-19 considered to be more contagious was detected in Michigan over the weekend.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials announced on Saturday January 16 that a an adult female living in Washtenaw County has contracted a new variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.1.7.

Officials say she recently traveled to the UK, where the variant was first identified and recently sent part of that country into strict lockdown to help curb the spread of the virus. Two more positive cases of COVID have been identified from close contact with the Washtenaw County woman, but it is not known whether these two are also infected with the virus variant.

Although this is the first detected instance of the variant, it is very likely that it has been spreading throughout the state and the United States for months already.

It is estimated that the B.1.1.7 variant appeared in September 2020 and quickly became the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in England, said the CDC.

As of January 13, 2021, approximately 76 cases of B.1.1.7 have been detected in 10 US states. Several lines of evidence indicate that B.1.1.7 is transmitted more efficiently than other variants of SARS-CoV-2, CDC reports.

EXPLAINER: Scientists trying to figure out a new variant of the virus

The modeled CDC The trajectory of this variant in the United States predicts rapid growth in early 2021, becoming the predominant variant in March. Increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2 could threaten depleted health care resources, require prolonged and more rigorous implementation of public health strategies, and increase the percentage of population immunity needed to fight the pandemic.

It is impossible to know for sure. But the spread of this variant to other countries has caused a sharp rise in hospitalizations and deaths, leading to stricter lockdown measures, especially in the UK.

The CDC says taking action to reduce transmission now can reduce the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and leave a critical time to increase immunization coverage.

“Collectively, enhanced genomic surveillance combined with continued adherence to effective public health measures, including immunization, physical distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, isolation and quarantine, will be essential for limit the spread, ”reports the CDC.

Since January 18, in Michigan, hospitalizations, case growth and positivity testing are near its lowest point for several weeks, and the state has reopened some business areas with plans to reopen further in February.

It is believed that existing and future vaccines are capable of handling this and other variants of COVID-19. Earlier this month, research suggested Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may protect against variant B.1.1.7, More precisely.

The study was preliminary and did not examine the other two main vaccines used in the West – Moderna and AstraZeneca. But it was reassuring, given the question of whether the virus could mutate to defeat the gunfire the world has placed its hopes on.

“There is no reason to believe that vaccines won’t work as well on these strains,” said Dr. Frederic Bushman of the University of Pennsylvania, who tracks how the virus mutates. “A mutation will change a small place, but it won’t disrupt the bond at all.”

Yes. This is what viruses do! This is how they survived for billions of years.

According to an article published in the Journal of Virology, about 8% of human DNA comes from viruses inserted into our genomes in the distant past, in many cases in the genomes of our prehuman ancestors millions of years ago. Most of these viral genes come from retroviruses, RNA viruses that insert DNA copies of their own genes into our genomes when they infect cells.

Viruses are constantly changing by mutation, and new variants of a virus should appear over time.

The best thing you can do is get vaccinated. If you are eligible for vaccination now, contact your local health department or hospital system to find options.

If you are not yet eligible for vaccination, you know the exercise here:

• Wear a mask around others.

• Stay 6 feet away from others.

• Wash your hands often.

• Ventilate interior spaces.

“The discovery of this variant in Michigan is concerning, but not unexpected,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, medical director and deputy chief of health at MDHHS. “We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as quickly as possible. We continue to urge the Michiganders to follow a research-based approach by wearing their masks properly, distancing themselves socially, avoiding crowds, washing their hands often, and making a plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine safe and sound. effective once it’s their turn.

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