First Case of COVID Variant Detected in Michigan: What You Need to Know

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

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials announced Saturday, Jan. 16, that a adult woman living in Washtenaw County got a new COVID-19 variantknown 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 stop the spread of the virus. Two more positive COVID cases have been identified from close contact with the Washtenaw County woman, but it is unclear whether those two individuals are also infected with the virus variant.

While this is the first instance of the variant detected, it is highly likely that it has been spreading across the state and the US for months.

The B.1.1.7 variant is estimated to have surfaced in September 2020 and has quickly become the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant in England, says the CDC.

As of January 13, 2021, approximately 76 cases of B.1.1.7 have been detected in 10 US states. Multiple evidence indicates that B.1.1.7 is more efficient in transmission than other SARS-CoV-2 variants, reports the CDC.

INTERPRETER: Scientists are trying to understand the new virus variant

It modeled CDC The trajectory of this variant in the US predicts rapid growth in early 2021, becoming the predominant variant in March. Increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission may threaten pressured healthcare resources, require extensive and more rigorous implementation of public health strategies, and increase the percentage of population immunity required for pandemic control.

It is impossible to know for sure. But the spread of this variant in other countries caused a major spike in hospital admissions and deaths, leading to tighter lockdown measures, especially in the UK

The CDC says taking steps to reduce transmission now could lessen the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and provide critical time to increase vaccination coverage.

“Collectively, enhanced genomic surveillance coupled with continued adherence to effective public health measures, including vaccination, physical distance, mask use, hand hygiene and isolation and quarantine, will be essential to limit the spread,” the CDC reports.

Since January 18, in Michigan, hospital admissions, case growth and test positivity are near their low point in weeks, and the state has reopened some areas of businesses with plans to reopen more in February.

Existing and future vaccines are believed to be able to handle this and other variants of COVID-19. Research suggested earlier this month Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the B.1.1.7 variantin particular.

The study was preliminary and did not look at the two other major vaccines used in the West – Modernas and AstraZenecas. But it was reassuring, given the question of whether the virus could mutate to defeat the shots the world has placed its hopes on.

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

Yes. That’s what viruses do! Thus they have survived billions of years.

According to an article published in the Journal of Virology, about 8 percent of human DNA comes from viruses introduced into our genomes in the distant past, in many cases millions of years ago in the genomes of our prehuman ancestors. 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 through mutation and new variants of a virus are expected to emerge over time.

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

If you are not yet eligible for vaccination, here’s the drill:

• Wear a mask around others.

• Stay 6 feet away from others.

• Wash your hands often.

• Ventilate indoor areas.

“The discovery of this variant in Michigan is concerning, but not unexpected,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health. “We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as soon as possible. We continue to urge Michiganders to take a research-based approach by wearing their masks properly, distancing themselves socially, avoiding crowds, washing their hands often, and making a plan to use the safe and effective COVID- 19 vaccine as soon as it is their turn. “

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