SARS-CoV-2 Variants - Coronavirus COVID-19 **NO DISCUSSION**

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JAN 23, 2021
First case of U.K. COVID-19 strain found in Washington state > Washington State Department of Health
Today, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) along with the Snohomish Health District and the UW Medicine Virology Lab, announce that the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 has been found in testing samples from our state.

The UW Medicine Virology Lab detected two cases of the COVID-19 variant, known as B.1.1.7 or SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 in specimens collected from two Snohomish County residents. ...

JAN 29, 2021
What Does the More Contagious Strain of Coronavirus in Washington State Mean, and What Can Be Done? | Community | chronline.com
The B.1.1.7 variant has been found in 24 states, including Washington, and has become the dominant strain in the U.K.
 
Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 40: An Imperfect Storm
January 21, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss the latest information on SARS-CoV-2 variants, estimates as to just how much of the US population might have some immunity to the virus, and the current supply and demand of vaccines.



Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 41: Surrender Is Not an Option
January 28, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss the issue of opening schools, updates on variants of concern, and more news on vaccines and their distribution.

 
Covid Mutations Undercut Optimism Even as More Vaccines Get Near
Jan. 29, 2021

“Vaccines made by Moderna Inc. and the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE partnership are already in use. Meanwhile, new studies show that two more -- from Johnson & Johnsonand Novavax Inc. -- pack potent punches against early forms of the virus, potentially paving the way for quick authorizations in the U.S. for J&J’s vaccine and in the U.K. for Novavax’s shot. That’s the good news, offering the promise of ending a pandemic that’s killed more than 2 million people worldwide.

Now comes the bad news: Mutations that likely confer partial resistance to vaccines and antibody treatments are now prevalent in both South Africa and Brazil, and threatening to spread worldwide. The J&J shot was found in a late-stage trial to be 72% effective in the U.S., but that fell to 57% in studies done in South Africa. Novavax’s shot, 89% effective in the U.K., was only 49% effective in South Africa.”
 
 
(Via @Rose in SC)

MUSC doctor suspects S. African COVID-19 variant is more prevalent than data shows

“CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Health officials confirm the nation’s first cases of the South African strain of COVID-19 have been found in South Carolina.

One case was reported in an individual from the Lowcountry and another in an individual from the Pee Dee, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

However, some doctors believe there could be more unidentified cases spreading across the state.

“With no connection to each other, you have to assume these individuals got it from somebody else, so there are other people out there that likely have this infection,” MUSC’s Dr. Krutika Kuppalli said.

Kuppalli said she’s also concerned other variants, like one originating in the United Kingdom are already in South Carolina, though no cases have been confirmed at this point.

“We still haven’t found cases of the B117 variant…but all the states around us have cases, so that makes me suspicious we probably have that variant in South Carolina as well,” Kuppalli said.“
 
COVID news: South Africa variant; South Carolina; Michael Strahan
Jan. 28, 2021

►The South Africa variant of the coronavirus has reached the U.S.: Two cases were identified in South Carolina. There is no evidence infections from the variant cause more severe disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, adding that "preliminary data suggests this variant may spread more easily and quickly than other variants." There's also concern vaccines might be less effective against this variant.
 
Covid-19: C.D.C. Order Requires Masks for Travel in U.S.
Countries are tightening borders to evade virus variants...

“At least one confirmed case of the South Africa-based coronavirus variant has been detected in the Baltimore metro region.

Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland on Saturday said there had been at least one confirmed case in the state of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa that has proved to be more resistant to vaccines.“

[...]

“The variant was first detected in the United States this week in South Carolina, which is already experiencing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the nation. Not long after, a second case was discovered with no known connection to the first, state officials announced on Thursday.

Neither patient had a history of travel, officials said, suggesting what many public health experts feared had come to pass: The new variant of the virus had taken root in the United States.

The Biden administration on Saturday put in place a ban on incoming travel from South Africa of noncitizens.

Known as B.1.351, the variant is one of several that have emerged during the pandemic. Others include a variant from Brazil, which has been detected in Minnesota, and one from Britain, which is spreading more widely in the United States.”

[...]

“Epidemiologists tracking the United States epidemic were already concerned that the variant first identified in Britain could become the dominant strain circulating in the United States by March. The United States is conducting little of the genomic sequencing necessary to track the spread of new variants that have caused concern.

Both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech — the companies manufacturing the two vaccines on the U.S. market — have said their shots are slightly less effective against the variant from South Africa, and the companies are considering creating either a booster shot or new version to head off the variant. The vaccine developed by Novavax, which has yet to be administered in the United States, appeared to be especially ineffective in trials at protecting against the South Africa variant.

Public health officials including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, have warned that circulation of new variants with increased transmissibility would invariably lead to more infections, and by extension, increased hospitalizations and deaths. Dr. Fauci said Friday that new clinical trial results from Johnson & Johnson, showing that its vaccine is less effective against the variant from South Africa, were a “wake-up call.”“

—-

Countries tighten borders as alarm over coronavirus variants grows.

“Countries are tightening their borders as a ban takes effect Saturday on noncitizens traveling to the United States from South Africa, amid warnings over the threat posed by a virus variantspreading rapidly there and signs that it can weaken the effectiveness of vaccines.

In recent days, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax have each announced that their vaccines provided strong protection against Covid-19, but the results came with a significant cautionary note: Their efficacy rate dropped in South Africa, where the highly contagious variant is driving most cases. Studies suggest that the variant also blunts the effectiveness of Covid vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax.

The variant, B.1.351, has spread to at least 31 countries, including two cases documented in the United States this week.“
 
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Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 42: Calling an Audible
February 4, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss the latest challenges related to variants of concern, the case for delaying second doses of current vaccines to broaden access to first doses, and double masking.

 
Tried linking a story on variant found in Kansas, at Fort Hays State University in Hays
Can’t link from I phone for some reason
On WIBW news page
 
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