The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an emerging COVID-19 variant known as the South African variant has been identified in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday an individual Finney County was found to have the B.1.351 variant. KDHE said a case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as if others may have been exposed. No further details are being released concerning the patient, including demographics, according to KDHE.The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.“The B.1.351 variant was originally identified in South Africa in December and has been found in 31 states and territories in the U.S,” the KDHE said in a news release. “At this point, it is not known to cause more severe disease, and it is not clear whether it spreads more readily than other strains. Although this strain can reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines, vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death.”KDHE Director Dr. Lee Norman said he continues to encourage people to take the appropriate precautions, including wearing a mask that fits snuggly around the nose and face and has multiple layers of fabric or layering thinner masks with an additional cloth face mask to improve the fit.“Kansans should also follow isolation and quarantine recommendations, practice physical distancing, good hygiene, staying home if ill and getting the vaccine if you are able to,” Norman said.Another variant of concern, B.1.1.7, also known as the UK variant, has previously been identified in Kansas. There are currently 76 cases identified in 14 counties. The U.K. variant was first reported in the U.S. at the end of December 2020. The KDHE said evidence from the U.K. indicates that this variant spreads much more quickly through the population and, given that fact, may rapidly increase the number of hospitalizations and deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an emerging COVID-19 variant known as the South African variant has been identified in Kansas.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday an individual Finney County was found to have the B.1.351 variant.
KDHE said a case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as if others may have been exposed.
No further details are being released concerning the patient, including demographics, according to KDHE.
The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
“The B.1.351 variant was originally identified in South Africa in December and has been found in 31 states and territories in the U.S,” the KDHE said in a news release. “At this point, it is not known to cause more severe disease, and it is not clear whether it spreads more readily than other strains. Although this strain can reduce the effectiveness of some vaccines, vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death.”
KDHE Director Dr. Lee Norman said he continues to encourage people to take the appropriate precautions, including wearing a mask that fits snuggly around the nose and face and has multiple layers of fabric or layering thinner masks with an additional cloth face mask to improve the fit.
“Kansans should also follow isolation and quarantine recommendations, practice physical distancing, good hygiene, staying home if ill and getting the vaccine if you are able to,” Norman said.
Another variant of concern, B.1.1.7, also known as the UK variant, has previously been identified in Kansas. There are currently 76 cases identified in 14 counties.
The U.K. variant was first reported in the U.S. at the end of December 2020. The KDHE said evidence from the U.K. indicates that this variant spreads much more quickly through the population and, given that fact, may rapidly increase the number of hospitalizations and deaths.