Huerta explains why variants of covid-19 are concerned 2:01
(CNN Spanish) ––
A new variant of covid-19, which worries health authorities, was detected for the first time in the United States, officials in Minnesota reported on Monday.
As they explained, the P.1 variant of the coronavirus was identified in a traveler from Brazil.
P.1 is one of four variants of Covid-19 that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are closely monitoring.
Until this Monday, that strain had only been reported in Brazil and among a group of four travelers from this country to Japan.
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“The variant was found through the Minnesota Department of Health variant surveillance program.
Each week, this program collects 50 random samples from clinical laboratories at the University of Minnesota, the Infinity Biologix Laboratory in Oakdale, and other partners.
Then it performs special tests using a process called whole genome sequencing, ”the Minnesota Department of Health explained in a statement.
The P.1 variant carries a pattern of mutations that appears to make the virus more easily transmitted.
"The emergence of this variant raises concerns about a possible increase in the transmissibility or propensity for reinfection of people by SARS-CoV-2," the CDC explained on its website.
This has been the most common variant of covid-19 detected in a wave of cases observed in and around Manaus.
This is the largest city in the Amazon region of Brazil.
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However, there is no evidence that it causes a more serious illness.
This we know about vaccines and variants of covid-19 2:28
"One of the reasons we can detect these variants of concern in Minnesota so quickly is because we have one of the best public health laboratory surveillance systems in the US," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. , it's a statement.
“We know that even as we work hard to defeat COVID-19, the virus continues to evolve as all viruses do.
That is another reason why we want to limit the transmission of covid-19.
The fewer people who contract COVID-19, the less chance the virus has to evolve, "added Malcolm.
“The good news is that we can stop the spread of this and all variants of COVID-19.
This, with the use of tried and true prevention methods.
For example, wearing masks, maintaining social distance, staying home when you're sick, and getting tested when appropriate.
covid-19 pandemic variant coronavirus
