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The Minnesota Department of Health said Monday it had confirmed the first known U.S. case of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus originally found in Brazil.
The Brazilian strain was found through the health department’s variant surveillance program, according to a press release. The department collects 50 random samples every week for genome sequencing.
The patient with the Brazilian variant is a resident of the Twin Cities metropolitan area who recently traveled to Brazil, according to public health officials. The person fell ill in the first week of January and the specimen was collected on January 9, the state said.
“We are grateful that our testing program has helped us find this case, and we thank all Minnesotans who seek testing when they feel sick or have reason to get tested,” the health commissioner said. of Minnesota, Jan Malcolm, in a statement. “We know that even as we work hard to defeat COVID-19, the virus continues to evolve like all viruses.”
Earlier today, President Joe Biden extended travel restrictions for Europe, the UK and Brazil, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, especially as new strains of the coronavirus are identified.
Health officials fear that the Covid-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective in guarding against new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus. Moderna said on Monday he was working on a recall to guard against another strain found in South Africa.
The Brazilian strain, called P.1, was first identified in four travelers from Brazil who were tested during routine screening in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It contains a set of additional mutations that can affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies, according to the CDC.
State health officials also said on Monday they had found two more cases of the B.1.1.7 virus which were first identified in the UK during the week’s variant surveillance tests last. Of the two new cases of this variant, both are residents of the Twin Cities metro area and both reported recent travel to California, officials said.
“These cases illustrate why it is so important to limit travel as much as possible during a pandemic,” epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield said in a statement. “If you must travel, it is important to watch for symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health advice on pre-travel screening, take cautious protective measures while traveling, quarantine, and yourself. get tested after the trip. “
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