Coronavirus Texas: COVID-19 variants from New York, California and Brazil detected in the Houston Methodist genome study

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – The Houston area now faces at least five different variants of COVID-19 with the addition of three from New York, Brazil and California.

The results of the study published Thursday by the Houston Methodist team of infectious diseases showed that the three additional variants were detected among the 20,453 coronavirus genomes in the area examined since the beginning of the pandemic.

SEE ALSO: Researchers find a new worrying variant of coronavirus in New York

The Houston Methodist study is the first to identify the three new variants in the greater Houston area.

Breakdown of all COVID-19 variants identified in the US right now

Variants from UK and South Africa have already been confirmed by city and county health officials, who have described them as more contagious.

SEE MORE: Everything you need to know about the COVID-19 version in South Africa

The findings come from the genome sequencing study at the national level of the hospital system. The Methodist team processes 1,700 samples per week. All four variants have been detected in the latest batches of genomes, the hospital said for ABC13.

How wastewater officials help detect COVID-19 variants

Follow Marla Carter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.