The Minnesota Department of Health said Monday that it has confirmed the first known case in the United States of a more contagious coronavirus variant originally found in Brazil.
The Brazilian strain was found through the health department’s surveillance program, according to a press release. The department collects 50 random samples each week for genome sequencing.
The patient with the Brazil variant is a resident of the Twin Cities metro area who recently traveled to Brazil, according to state health officials. The person fell ill in the first week of January, and the specimen was collected on January 9, the state said.
“We are grateful that our testing program has helped us find this case and we thank all Minnesota people who are looking for tests when they feel bad or otherwise have reason to take a test,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan. Malcolm, in a statement. “We know that even though we are working hard to defeat COVID-19, the virus continues to evolve like all viruses.”
Earlier in the day, President Joe Biden extended travel restrictions to Europe, the United Kingdom and Brazil, in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19, especially as new coronavirus strains are identified.
Health officials are concerned that Covid-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective in protecting against new, more contagious strains of coronavirus. Moderna said Monday it was working on a booster shot to protect itself from another strain found in South Africa.
The Brazilian strain, called P.1, was first identified in four Brazilian travelers who were tested during a routine screening in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It contains a set of additional mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies, according to the CDC.
State health officials said on Monday that they had found two more cases of the B.1.1.7 virus, which was first identified in the UK by last week’s variant surveillance tests. Of the two new cases of this variant, both are residents of the Twin Cities subway area and both have reported recent trips to California, officials said.
“These cases illustrate why it is so important to limit travel as much as possible during a pandemic,” epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield said in a statement. “If you need to travel, it is important to follow the symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health instructions regarding pre-trip testing, use careful protective measures during the trip, and quarantine and test yourself after the trip.”