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The new variant of coronavirus, discovered in the UK and reportedly more contagious, has surfaced in the US.
"Today we discovered Colorado's first case COVID-19 Variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in Great Britain "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted on Tuesday. A statement attached to the tweet said the patient is a man in his twenties with no travel history. Public health officials are conducting contact tracing interviews to identify other potential cases, the statement said, adding that close contacts with the patient have not yet been discovered.
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The coronavirus variant caused the UK to put a strict lockdown during the Christmas holidays, and various countries, including the US, have introduced stricter entry requirements for travelers arriving from the UK. The variant has also appeared in other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Spain and Japan.
There is no evidence that the variant is more deadly than previously known strains of the coronavirus, or that it makes people sick or is resistant to the vaccines developed. A study published last week by a team of British scientists estimates it is 56% more contagious, the New York Times reported. The British government had earlier said the variant could be up to 70% more transferable.
A lot remains to be discovered about the variant.
"I think we need to keep an eye on it and take it seriously," Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, told the Washington Post on Tuesday. "We obviously take seriously any type of mutation that might have a functional meaning. But I think we don't know enough about it to make definitive statements other than to carefully follow and study it carefully."
Continue reading: Why you shouldn't panic over the UK's mutant strain of coronavirus
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions about a disease or health goals.
