A COVID-19 variant never seen before has been identified in Humboldt County, but public health officials say current evidence suggests it was contained in a single outbreak and that there is no evidence that it was has spread to the wider community.
At the end of January, Humboldt County Public Health submitted dozens of samples from individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Granada Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, along with dozens of random samples from the Humboldt County Public Health Lab (PHL), for routine -genomic supervision. . Genomic sequencing of the samples was performed by Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub), a non-profit medical research organization responsible for approximately 45% of genomic surveillance in California.
CZ Biohub determined that 16 of the samples had the same mutation of the ear protein of the virus at the N501Y position, which is common among other COVID-19 variants, and that Public Health linked all 16 to the Granada plant. Lab studies suggest that this mutation makes the virus “tough” or can more easily attach to the virus to receptors of a cell, which can lead to higher transmission.
The Humboldt County Health Officer, dr. Ian Hoffman, said it appears the mutation took place inside the Granada plant as the virus spread among staff and residents. “There is no evidence to suggest that this variant was introduced from outside Granada, and data provided by CZ Biohub indicates that it has not been seen elsewhere in Humboldt County,” he said. “The good news is that there has been no evidence through genetic testing or contact tests to indicate that the variant has spread across the wider community.”
Senior biosecurity fellow at CZ Biohub, dr. Patrick Ayscue, said: “Mutation is a natural feature of viruses, so it is not unexpected that we will sometimes see abnormalities in outbreaks.” Dr Ayscue further said: ‘What is quite remarkable here is that Humboldt County Public Health is in a position to identify, contain and successfully stop a new and potentially dangerous variant before it has had the opportunity to expand. spread. It is truly an honor to the hard work of local public health and their partners. ”
The Humboldt County PHL has been working with CZ Biohub since June 2020, and the nonprofit has tracked down more than 650 samples from Humboldt County, accounting for approximately 22% of total cases. PHL laboratory manager, dr. Jeremy Corrigan, said: ‘After packing and shipping the samples, our teams work together to analyze the order of data and identify any concerns. Sequence also provides some quality control because we can monitor for mutations that may affect the effectiveness of the PCR assay we use, ”referring to the polymerase chain reaction assay used by the PHL. Dr Corrigan noted that these types of partnerships are an excellent opportunity to leverage expertise and resources to better understand local COVID-19 conditions.
Dr. Hoffman described the outbreak in Granada as heartbreaking for residents, their families and caregivers as well as the community at large. According to him, the identification of this variant provides a better understanding of why the virus could spread through the facility so quickly. “Genomic sequencing is a tool we will use to help us monitor and contain variants before it becomes a problem,” he said.
With variants of concern increasing worldwide, and here in California, dr. Hoffman said preventative measures are essential to curb the spread of COVID-19. “Keep wearing a mask when you are in public, keep physical distance and wash your hands regularly.”
Read more about CZ Biohub’s genomic sequence czbiohub.org.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit cdc.gov
or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org
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