The Minnesota Department of Health said Monday it has confirmed the first known US case of a more contagious variant of coronavirus originally found in Brazil.
According to a press release, the Brazilian species was found through the health department’s variant surveillance program. The department collects 50 random samples for genome sequencing every week.
The patient with the Brazilian variant is a resident of the Twin Cities metro area who recently traveled to Brazil, according to state health officials. The person became ill during the first week of January, and the specimen was collected Jan. 9, the state said.
“We are grateful that our testing program helped us find this case, and we thank all Minnesota residents who seek testing when they feel ill or have reason to have a test for any other reason Jan Malcolm, Minnesota health commissioner said in a statement. “We know that even if we work hard to beat COVID-19, the virus will continue to evolve like all viruses do.”
Earlier in the day, President Joe Biden extended travel restrictions for Europe, the UK and Brazil, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19, especially as new strains of the coronavirus are identified.
Health officials are concerned that the Covid-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective as protecting against new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus. Moderna said Monday it is working on a booster shot to protect itself from another species found in South Africa.
The Brazilian strain, called P.1, was first identified in four travelers from Brazil who were tested during a routine screening in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, it contains a series of additional mutations that can affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies.
State health officials also said on Monday they have found two more cases of the B.1.1.7 virus that were first identified in the UK during last week’s variant of surveillance tests. Of the two new cases of that variant, both are residents of Twin Cities in the metro area, and both have recently traveled to California, officials said.
“These cases illustrate why it is so important to minimize travel during a pandemic,” epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield said in a statement. “If you must travel, it is important to look out for the symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health guidelines to get tested prior to travel, take careful protective measures while traveling, and quarantine after traveling. and get tested. “