Colorado health officials announced this week that the state has identified its first cases of a worrying coronavirus variant that was only identified in Brazil last year.
The variant, scientifically called P.1, was identified in two residents of Boulder Counter, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), which noted that the Centers for Diease Control and Prevention. (CDC) first notified public health officials of the P.1. incidents.
“The previous travel history for both individuals is unknown at this time,” officials said, adding that they are now “investigating possible exposure and conducting contact detection to determine if the variant virus has spread to others.”
“Boulder County Public Health is working closely with CDPHE to provide local support if needed or requested,” they added.
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The Brazilian variant was first identified in the US at the end of January. It is thought to have originated in Manaus, a northwestern city in the Amazon, where researchers believe it may have spread in December. The strain contains three mutations, E484K, K417T and N501Y, similar to a separate variant initially detected in South Africa.
Although the P.1 variant has been found to be more transmissible than the wild-type coronavirus, Oxford University recently said new findings show that it is less endangered than previously thought for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
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Overall, about 289 cases of the P.1. a variant has been identified in 25 U.S. jurisdictions, according to the CDC, with Massachusetts and Florida responsible for most cases of the variant, 82 and 84, respectively.
“Coloradans should continue to wear masks, physically distance themselves, wash their hands regularly and be vaccinated when it is their turn. It is our best tool to prevent the spread of this virus, regardless of the stress. Early research suggests that the current authorized vaccines are effective against known variants, though perhaps to varying degrees, depending on the strain, “Colorado health officials said in the news release. “Experts emphasize that being vaccinated can provide significant protection against transmission and serious diseases of COVID-19.”
Fox News’ Alexandria Hein contributed to this report.