WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) – A second case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.7, originally discovered in the United Kingdom, has been identified in Waukesha County. Researchers say it was known that this new variant spreads faster, but now a new study says it is also more lethal.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the second case was found Feb. 6. The case is now being closely monitored by the Waukesha County Department of Health.
“We are finding a tip of the iceberg, and there are probably other cases that have not yet been detected,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, medical chief of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said.
Dr. Ryan Westergaard did not say how the person in Waukesha County is experiencing the tension, but says the likelihood of the community spreading in the state is high. He says less than one percent of COVID-19 specimens in Wisconsin are sequentially looking for new strains.
“If it does not come – necessarily from this particular case, but through the amount of interstate and international travel still taking place,” he said.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Waukesha County Department of Health said in part:
‘The case detected in Waukesha County was identified after being tested positive for COVID-19. That person was successfully located and instructed to isolate. We work with DHS to gather additional details to facilitate nationwide monitoring. ”
“It can take over very quickly and become the dominant tribe, and with the timelines we are seeing, it could possibly happen in the next one to two months,” said Dr. Ben Weston, medical director at the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, said. .
Dr. Weston says there are three aspects that make B.1.1.7 dangerous. He says a new study in the UK shows that it is 70 per cent more contagious, 35 per cent more lethal, and some findings show that it can even evade the immune system. The increased portability may play a large factor or B.1.1.7 become the next predominant strain.
“What we have heard from other states that have detected a greater number is that a large number of them have not had an international trip,” Dr Westergaard said.
“We really are not in a roster to vaccinate people as quickly as possible to make the peak disappear as much as possible,” says Dr Weston.
Health officials believe the case numbers are currently moving in the right direction, but now is not the time to let our guards down.
“I think we need to be happy with the progress we have made, but we need to be vigilant and really take the risk that a second and additional wave could occur,” adds Dr Westergaard.
Dr Weston says the increased contagion of this variant will make it much harder to control another peak. He says it is difficult to control how an increase in new variants will affect case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths.