First Case of Brazilian Strain of Coronavirus Detected in U.S.

First Case of Brazilian Strain of Coronavirus Detected in U.S.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced late Monday that they have confirmed the first U.S. case of a highly transmissible variant that has been spreading in Brazil in recent weeks. 

Health experts are concerned that vaccines could be less effective against the so-called Brazil variant.

MDH said the case involved “a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil."

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President Joe Biden on Monday extended a ban on travelers from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 other European countries that had been set to expire Tuesday.

 

Brazilian Variant in Focus

MDH said its Public Health Laboratory found the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the Brazil P.1 variant in a specimen from a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil. While this variant is thought to be more transmissible than the initial strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, it is not yet known whether the variant causes more severe illness.

This case marks the first documented instance of the Brazil P.1 variant in the United States. The variant was found through the MDH’s variant surveillance program. Each week this program collects 50 random samples from the University of Minnesota clinical laboratories, Infinity Biologix Laboratory in Oakdale, and other testing partners and then conducts special testing using a process called whole genome sequencing. Through this program, the state develops a more accurate picture of what specific forms of COVID-19 are circulating in Minnesota.

Last week GoLocal reported that the new strain of the coronavirus emerging in Brazil is worrying public health experts because this strain may be reinfecting those that already suffered through and recovered from the virus.

According to Covid ActNow:    

NPR explores whether a new COVID variant identified in Brazil may be causing reinfections. Brazil had one of the world’s worst outbreaks in the city of Manaus last April, leading some researchers to believe that the city may have achieved herd immunity. Experts believe that a new surge, which is overwhelming hospitals, is largely being driven by a new variant that has been circulating around Manaus since at least last December. The variant, P1, shares three key mutations with 501Y.V2, which was identified in South Africa. These mutations target the region of the virus that binds to human cells and antibodies, which could decrease some antibodies’ ability to recognize and neutralize the virus, making it easier for people to get COVID a second time.

On Monday, Moderna announced its COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be protective against emerging variants of the coronavirus in laboratory tests, but that as a precaution it will start testing whether a booster shot improves immune responses, including a new vaccine targeting the strain first identified in South Africa.

According to Moderna, its vaccine produced immune-system agents known as neutralizing antibodies against emerging virus variants tested, including strains first identified in the U.K. and South Africa. But, Moderna made no claim regarding the Brazilian variant.

 

Minnesota Officials Announce

According to Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm, this new finding underscores the importance of COVID-19 testing as well as continued efforts by all Minnesotans to limit the spread of the disease.

“We’re thankful that our testing program helped us find this case, and we thank all Minnesotans who seek out testing when they feel sick or otherwise have reason to get a test,” Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said. “We know that even as we work hard to defeat COVID-19, the virus continues to evolve as all viruses do. That’s yet another reason why we want to limit COVID-19 transmission – the fewer people who get COVID-19, the fewer opportunities the virus has to evolve. The good news is that we can slow the spread of this variant and all COVID-19 variants by using the tried-and-true prevention methods of wearing masks, keeping social distance, staying home when sick, and getting tested when appropriate.”

The patient with the Brazil P.1 variant is a resident of the Twin Cities metro area. The person became ill during the first week of January and the specimen was collected Jan. 9. The patient spoke with MDH case investigators after the initial test came back positive for COVID-19, and reported traveling to Brazil prior to becoming ill. The person was advised during that interview to isolate from others and have any household contacts observe quarantine, as per standard protocol. With the new lab information showing the case to be the Brazil P.1 variant, MDH epidemiologists are re-interviewing the person to obtain more details about the illness, travel and contacts. 

“One of the reasons we are able to detect those variants of concern in Minnesota so quickly is that we have one of the best public health laboratory surveillance systems in the U.S.,” said Commissioner Malcolm.

The MDH Public Health Laboratory also found two more cases of the B.1.1.7 variant – commonly known as the UK variant – through last week’s COVID-19 variant surveillance testing. Of the two new cases with the UK variant detected by MDH, both are Twin Cities metro area residents and both reported recent travel to California. One had no symptoms but sought testing following their travel, as recommended by MDH and CDC guidelines. One had a symptom onset date of Jan. 3, 2021.

MDH also reported that the CDC identified one additional patient with the variant – also a metro area resident – with recent travel history to the Dominican Republic. This case had a symptom onset date of Jan. 10, 2021.

With these latest cases, a total of eight UK variant cases now have been identified in Minnesota, although more are suspected to exist.

“These cases illustrate why it is so important to limit travel during a pandemic as much as possible,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield. “If you must travel, it is important to watch for symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health guidance on getting tested prior to travel, use careful protective measures during travel, and quarantine and get tested after travel.”