JACKSON, MI – A Jackson County boy has been identified as the first South African COVID-19 Michigan case to be identified in Jackson County, state officials said.
The B.1.351 variant was identified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Laboratories on Monday, March 8th.
Investigations are currently underway to determine close contact with this boy, and if there are any additional issues related to this case, MDHHS officials said. State health officials did not disclose the boy’s age.
Originally detected in South Africa in early October 2020, this variant shares some mutations with the British B.1.1.7 variant. As of March 8, Michigan has identified 516 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in 23 Michigan jurisdictions.
Cases of the South African variant were first reported in the United States at the end of January.
B.1.351 is believed to be more contagious, but there is no indication that it affects the clinical outcome or severity of disease compared to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has been spreading in the United States for months, MDHHS officials said.
Based on available evidence, current tests can identify COVID-19 in these cases, MDHHS officials said. The available COVID-19 vaccines are also working against the new variant, although scientists are still evaluating how effective they are against this new variant.
Based on available evidence, current tests can identify COVID-19 in these cases, MDHHS officials said. The available COVID-19 vaccines are also working against the new variant.
A higher transfer rate could increase the number of people who need to be hospitalized or who lose their lives to COVID-19, the new variant would start to spread widely in Michigan, MDHHS officials said.
The virus has been identified in at least 20 other states. This is the only known case in Michigan at the moment, but it is possible that there are more that have not been identified, MDHHS officials said.
“We are concerned about the discovery of another variant in Michigan, although it was not unexpected,” Dr Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS’s chief medical officer and deputy chief of health, said in a news release.
“We continue to call on Michiganders to take a research approach by wearing their masks properly, removing them socially, avoiding crowds, washing their hands regularly and making a plan to ensure the safe and effective COVID-19 get vaccine as soon as it is your turn. We all have a personal responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as soon as possible. ”
For the most recent information, visit the Jackson County Health Department Web site on the Jackson County COVID Vaccine Web site or the Facebook page.
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