A newly mutated strain of the coronavirus, first identified in the U.K., has raised global concern since its discovery. This strain, known as B.1.1.7, has been confirmed as the first case in the United States at a laboratory in Colorado. The individual affected is a man in his 20s with no recent travel history, suggesting that this variant may already be circulating undetected within the country.
The Colorado State Laboratory has sequenced and confirmed the presence of this variant, which is believed to be more transmissible than previously identified strains. This has led to heightened concerns and new travel restrictions being implemented worldwide. “There’s much we still don’t understand about this variant, but experts in the U.K. are warning that it spreads significantly easier,” stated Colorado Governor Mark Weller. “The health and safety of our residents remains our highest priority, and we are monitoring this situation closely.”
State officials are currently working to track down any close contacts of the confirmed case; however, they have yet to identify any. The U.S. has struggled with effective contact tracing throughout the pandemic, allowing cases to rise dramatically since last spring. Trevor James, a researcher at the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, expressed his concerns regarding the potential for a new wave of infections linked to this variant. “I’m worried that this could lead to another surge in the spring,” he remarked. “It’s a race against the vaccine, but now the virus has become a bit quicker.”
In response to the emergence of this variant, several countries across Europe have enacted travel bans from the U.K. While the U.S. has not implemented a similar ban, air travelers arriving from the U.K. must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their flight. The CDC noted that given the limited genetic sequencing conducted in the U.S. — with only about 51,000 cases out of 17 million — it is likely that this new strain is already present and spreading. They also reassured the public that there is no current evidence indicating that this variant leads to more severe illness or a higher risk of death. Furthermore, scientists remain confident that the COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered will be effective against this variant.
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Summary:
The first U.S. case of the highly transmissible U.K. COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 has been confirmed in Colorado. The individual affected had no travel history, suggesting the strain may already be spreading in the U.S. Health officials are monitoring the situation closely as concerns grow over potential new waves of infection. Current evidence indicates that the vaccines will still be effective against this variant.