The first US case of the UK strain was discovered last month in Colorado.
“It’s a variant that has specific mutations that was described in the UK in mid-December,” said Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Redondo, a virologist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “It took over the epidemic only in Britain.”
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Redondo is part of a team of scientists from Northwestern University who followed the COVID-19 tests. Out of 200 recent patients, he said they found one with the UK version.
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This finding led state officials to warn once again of the need to maintain precautionary measures, as the British version is considered to be more contagious. However, doctors do not believe it can cause more severe disease or be more deadly.
“Early studies show that this spread is easier and faster,” said top Illinois physician Ngozi Ezike. “So if we don’t keep wearing our masks, keep our distance and avoid rallies, this new option could go through the state as it goes through the UK.
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“We must remain vigilant if we are to maintain our progress,” Governor JB Pritzker added. “Honestly, it will be up to each of us to keep our schools open and see an economic recovery that restores jobs and business. We need to wear a mask to limit interactions with people outside our household and get vaccinated when it’s our turn. “
Redondo said current vaccines are expected to be effective against the UK variant, but warns that it is time to reduce the spread.
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“That’s why it’s so important to reduce the number,” he said. “Not because this virus is more severe, but we don’t want to give the virus more chances to adapt and improve when infected.”
The discovery of the Chicago variant comes as the total number of deaths in COVID-19 exceeds 2 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The landmark was reached just over a year after COVID-19 was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
It took eight months to hit 1 million dead and less than four months later to reach the next million.
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