York County Maine Finds Case of India COVID-19 Variant, This is Nuts

Genome Sequencing

As we were fast and furious in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic most tests were either positive or negative.  A great many tests were not being tested for what variant of COVID-19 a person had.  As the COVID-19 cases have come down in the United States, there has been an increase in genome sequencing of those positive tests.  As the virus mutates, new variants are being made by the virus to keep it going.  Now it is important to make sure we keep on top of what variants are around to prevent another wave of cases from a variant that may escape the efficacy of the vaccines.

India Variant Found In York County Maine

Just across the New Hampshire border, a COVID-19 positive case was discovered that is the B.1.617.2 which is the predominant strain that is erupting in India according to WMUR.com.  For some time health officials have known that the UK variant has become dominant in the US but now that the one from India is here it’s a little unnerving.

Health Officials are Closely Monitoring the Situation

WMUR.com reports that health officials are “closely monitoring ‘variants of concern.’” Some of these variants are more transmissible and we hope they can’t get around the protection we have from the vaccines that are currently available.  I’m glad we have a strong public health team here in New England to keep watch on these things.  As it is being tracked so closely, if we need a booster, they will find it.  It’s just one case, but important that we keep an eye on things.  No one wants to go back to lockdown.

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