Michigan confirms the first case of the COVID variant in South Africa in Jackson County

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that the first case of variant B.1.351 COVID-19 was identified in a child in Jackson County.

The health department did not say how the boy became infected, but a case investigation is underway to establish close contacts and whether there are any additional cases associated.

This new variant was initially detected in South Africa in October 2020 and shares some mutations with variant B117. The first case of variant B117 – initially detected in the United Kingdom – was identified in Washtenaw County.

READ: Everything we know about virus variants in Michigan, USA

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Officials said B.1.351 is considered more contagious, but there is no indication that it “affects the clinical outcome or severity of the disease compared to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has been circulating in the United States for months.”

However, a higher transmission rate could increase the number of people who need to be hospitalized or lose their lives due to COVID-19 if the new variant starts circulating widely in Michigan. Officials said that since Monday, the variant has been identified in 20 other states and jurisdictions.

This case in Michigan is the only one identified at this time. He was first reported in the United States on January 28, when he was identified to two people in South Carolina.

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“We are concerned about the discovery of another variant in Michigan, although it was not unexpected,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical officer and deputy chief health officer. “We continue to urge Michiganders to take a research-based approach, wearing masks properly, socially distancing themselves, avoiding congestion, washing their hands often and making a plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective at once. it’s their turn. We all have a personal responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as soon as possible. ”

Based on the available evidence, current tests can identify COVID-19 in these cases. The available COVID-19 vaccines also work against this new variant.