First known U.S. cases of potent South African COVID-19 variant found in South Carolina

[webfact]

First known U.S. cases of potent South African COVID-19 variant found in South Carolina

By Julie Steenhuysen

 

A healthcare worker prepares a coronavirus test in Elizabeth, New Jersey, January 8, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - A potent coronavirus variant originating in South Africa and possibly resistant to current vaccines and antibody treatments has been detected for the first time in the United States in two South Carolina patients, health officials said on Thursday.

 

Medical experts said arrival of the so-called South African variant presents an alarming new challenge in efforts to contain a raging pandemic that has claimed at least 430,000 American lives in 11 months, as authorities struggle launch the largest mass-vaccination campaign in U.S. history.

 

All viruses mutate frequently, and scientists have identified several variants of the novel coronavirus found to be more transmissible than the original strain.

 

But the presence of the South African variant, which has shown no evidence of causing more severe disease, is nonetheless especially concerning because several laboratory studies have found that it reduces vaccine and antibody therapy efficacy.

 

Another concern, according to Vivek Murthy, nominated to be the next U.S. surgeon general, is that the South African variant may require larger doses of antibody therapeutics for effective treatment.

 

State health officials in South Carolina on Thursday said they found two cases of COVID-19 linked to a more transmissible coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa, the first cases of the mutated virus discovered in the United States. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

 

Confirmation of two patients with that variant in South Carolina comes days after the Minnesota Department of Health identified the first known U.S. case of another highly contagious variant that originated in Brazil.

 

Yet a third form of the virus from the UK that is more infectious, and associated with higher mortality, made its first U.S. appearance last month in Colorado and has since been detected in at least 28 states.

 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has predicted the UK variant could become the dominant strain in the United States by March.

 

"The thing that's troublesome now that we really need to keep our eye on are these variants," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. infectious disease specialist, said in an interview on MSNBC. "The one that is of greater concern and that really could be problematic is the mutant that is now dominant in South Africa."

 

So far, the two-dose vaccines made by Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc with BioNTech appear protective against the South African variant, despite a weaker response.

 

The companies this week said they are considering making new versions of their shots just in case. Moderna also plans to test giving a third shot of its vaccine to bolster antibody levels.

 

'EYE OF THE HURRICANE'

The CDC said in a statement that it was aware of the South Carolina cases and noted that there is no evidence the variant is any more deadly than the original virus.

 

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said the two newly discovered cases of the South African variant, a strain known to scientists as B.1.351, appear to be unrelated to one another.

 

The agency said neither of the two adults who contracted it had a recent travel history that would account for their infections, suggesting the variant was transmitted locally.

 

The South Africa variant has been detected in more than 30 countries.

 

"I'm very worried about the variants, all of them, all have the potential to be much more transmissible than the current version of COVID that we seem to be dealing with in the United States," Murthy said in a Washington Post interview.

 

The CDC has said the arrival of more transmissible coronavirus variants emphasizes the need for rapid rollout of vaccines to limit the ability of the virus to continue mutating.

 

While the rate of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations has leveled off across the United States in the past couple of weeks, following a months-long surge that pushed healthcare systems to their limits, Fauci said the country still faced a "very serious issue."

 

Scientists have warned that another onslaught of infections could loom on the horizon as more transmissible forms of the virus spread before collective immunity can be achieved through widespread vaccination programs.

 

"Even though the total new cases has gone down from around 250,000 confirmed cases a day to 180,000 a day, that's the eye of the hurricane. The backside is now coming," Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of tropical medicine for Baylor College of Medicine, told MSNBC.

He said accelerating immunizations is more urgent than ever with the arrival of the South African variant.

 

Fauci agreed, saying, "We could have some difficult times that we have to be prepared for."

 

(Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; additional reporting by Vishwadha Chander and Manojna Maddipatla in Bangalore; Susan Heavey in Washington; Peter Henderson in Oakland; Editing by David Gregorio, Andrea Ricci and Bill Berkrot)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-29

 

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[Tug]

This sucks please follow all safe protocols and if you encounter (covidiots)give them a wide berth the nightmare continues 

[spiekerjozef]

26 mln cases and they found only 1...

[Jeffr2]

6 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

26 mln cases and they found only 1...

Kinda like last January.  Only 7 deaths in the US....my how things changed.  This new variant is going to go crazy.

[TKDfella]

Reading some research papers earlier today there is both good and bad news. Note that I say 'research papers' I am referring to research into virus structure, responses etc. and not about the industrial circumstances on vaccines.

The goods news is that scientists are gradually identifying processes that at least, aid mutations. The bad news is what they have seen, so far, is not encouraging for vaccines. (Research into so called 'escape variant mechanisms' isn't new and certainly, if memory serves, a lot was being done with Flu and HIV at the beginning of this millennium.) Apparently, one of the mechanisms for the Covid virus is that a vaccine can adhere or 'coat' the protein spikes of the virus which then makes it 'invisible' to the bodies natural defence response. Mutation via protein adjustment then takes place and a variant emerges. Of course, there is as yet no accumulated data for this mechanism on Covid

There was a lot absorb from these papers which, for a layman like me, was not an easy read and I will have to read them again a couple of times. But I did find an easier read on Medical Xpress which also talks of the 'race' getting nasty (such as Germany questioning the efficiency of the AstraZeneca vaccine saying it is only 85% effective on older people). This could undermine confidence in vaccinations.

So, yes it is sad that the US now has the African variant but I don't think it was wholly unexpected because of the 'shape shifting' ability of this virus. One can only hope that it can be contained and cases begin to decline.

[Elkski]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Worrisome

[Stargeezr]

Well I guess that International travel stuff, really does spread things around.  Maybe  only essential travel is needed, even now, or maybe the USA wants to lose 2 million people before they get a handle on this virus.  

  Good Luck USA  you surely need all you can get.

Geezer

[Elkski]

The SC case did not travel so they have not figured out the S africa connection yet.  As slow as countries are to stop international travel we are doomed if a  real deadly virus breaks out.  yes this world travel has really made it easier for 1 virus to wipe us all out.