In a previous post, a brief note on the first confirmed reported case of COVID-19 variant in Twin Cities Minnesota was highlighted. In this post, additional details about the case, how it was identified and travel restriction measures are discussed.

Brazilian COVID-19 Variant in Minnesota

According to Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) news release, state’s Public Health Laboratory detected first confirmed case of COVID-19 variant from Brazil (known as the Brazil P.1 variant) in a ‘specimen from a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil’.

“This case marks the first documented instance of the Brazil P.1 variant in the United States. The variant was found through the MDH’s variant surveillance program.”

“The patient with the Brazil P.1 variant is a resident of the Twin Cities metro area. The person became ill during the first week of January and the specimen was collected Jan. 9. The patient spoke with MDH case investigators after the initial test came back positive for COVID-19, and reported traveling to Brazil prior to becoming ill. The person was advised during that interview to isolate from others and have any household contacts observe quarantine, as per standard protocol,” reports MDH news release.

It was only a matter of time before the variant was detected in the United States. With the world travel that you have, and the degree of transmissibility efficiency, it’s not surprising.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, White House Covid adviser to President (source: New York Times)

According to the CIDRAP, the state’s sequencing results detected two additional cases of B.1.1.7 variant from Britain who had returned from their travel from California and Dominican Republic.

One of the reasons we are able to detect those variants of concern in Minnesota so quickly is that we have one of the best public health laboratory surveillance systems in the U.S.

Jan Malcolm, MN Health Commissioner (source: MDH News Release)

• Brazilian COVID-19 variant detected in Minnesota
• MDH lab testing confirms nation’s first known COVID-19 case associated with Brazil P.1 variant
• A New Coronavirus Variant From Brazil Is Found In Minnesota
• The first confirmed U.S. case of a variant discovered in Brazil is found in Minnesota
• Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants | CDC

COVID-19 Brazilian P1 Variant

The COVID-19 variant from Brazil (known as B.1.1.28.1 or P.1) contains “17 unique amino acid changes and 3 deletions” according to the CDC.

• This variant contains three mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain: K417T, E484K, and N501Y.
• Some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect its transmissibility and antigenic profile.
• The variant reportedly shares many mutations with one first identified in South Africa.

In the New York Times, Bryan Pietsch and Apoorva Mandavilli write that “the variants in Brazil and South Africa have additional mutations that may help elude the vaccines”. Talking to the Times, Dr Fauci said “the amount of concern that I have between the U.K. variant, and the South African/Brazilian is much, much different”.

Both the B117 and P.1 variants are more contagious than the original SARS-CoV2 strain, and B117 shows early signs of causing more severe illness, reports CIDRAP.

Travel Restriction To Brazil

According to the CDC, ‘all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States’.

“These cases illustrate why it is so important to limit travel during a pandemic as much as possible. If you must travel, it is important to watch for symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health guidance on getting tested prior to travel, use careful protective measures during travel, and quarantine and get tested after travel.”

Dr. Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist (source: MDH News Release)

According to the NPR news, the P.1 variant has been circulating in Manaus, Brazil, since at least December.