According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 cases of the more contagious, mutated coronavirus strain first detected in the UK have been identified.
In an update Wednesday, the CDC listed 26 cases in California, two in Colorado, 22 in Florida, one in Georgia and an additional case in New York, for a total of 52 cases. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Thursday that it also has a confirmed case of the variant.
The CDC notes that the figures are an understatement and writes: ‘The cases identified above are based on a sample of SARS-CoV-2 positive samples and do not represent the total number of B.1.1.7 lineage cases. which may not be in circulation in the United States and may not correspond to the numbers reported by states, territories, tribes, and local officials. ‘
The CDC plans to update the page fortnightly as more reported cases of the variety strain arise.
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The coronavirus B.1.1.7. A variant is said to be more transmissible than previous strains, but it is not considered more virulent or resistant to vaccines and treatment. Experts in infectious diseases were not surprised to hear of the variant already circulating in the US, given the ongoing journey.
In a recent interview with Newsweek, dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert in infectious diseases, said it was clear that the mutated strain in the UK would emerge in other states.
“I think it’s pretty clear that if it’s going to be places like California and New York and Colorado … it’s going to be in a number of other states soon,” Fauci said, adding later: “I do not think the United Kingdom . mutation [variant] was responsible for the considerable increase in cases in the United States, because the British variant is here, but it is not the dominant tribe in the United States. But even if it is not the dominant tribe, we still have a very steep curve in our country. ‘
New York has announced that it has tracked down its first case of the British variant in a Saratoga man in his 60s. Governor Andrew Cuomo called the mutated tribe a “game changer” during a recent press conference, while boasting against federal health officials for not enforcing a travel ban or for testing UK travelers.
Meanwhile, Colorado officials have identified both the confirmed case of the coronavirus variant and a possible second case among members of the Colorado National Guard that were used to help the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Simla, where there is a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 was.
Furthermore, the variant was confirmed in Georgia in an 18-year-old man with no travel history.
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Amid the spread of the more transmissible strain, top health experts have stressed the need for mitigation measures to prevent virus spread and further burden the already overwhelming health systems.
Fox News, medical associate, dr. Nicole Saphier, said the new infectious strain would be more difficult to control, although she noted that there is already uncontrolled virus spread.
“Ultimately, it just means it can be a little harder to contain this virus, but we already have uncontrolled spread, so we need to wear the mask, physically distance ourselves and encourage people to get vaccinated,” Saphier told Fox & Friends First “is co-host.