A man who works in Simla, Colorado, a community of 600 that is situated 80 miles southeast of Denver, has become the first in the United States to be diagnosed with the virus mutation that was initially discovered in the United Kingdom.
He has no recent travel history, indicating that its spread may already be widespread in the U.S.
British scientists have warned that this mutation is up to 70% more contagious than what preceded it.
It does not appear to be more lethal, but it drastically increasing how many people are contracting it has resulted in spikes in hospitalized patients.
In fact, the U.K. has more hospitalized with COVID-19 now than it did during the first outbreak in the spring.
Trevor Bedford, a scientist with Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Center who studies how COVID-19 spreads, said that he is now worried about an upcoming wave of cases resulting from this.
He added, “It’s a race with the vaccine, but now the virus has just gotten a little bit faster.”
The unnamed man has isolated himself in a location outside of Elbert County, where Simla is located, as he does not live there.
He works at Simla’s Good Samaritan Society assisted living facility. Meanwhile, a second person who also works there is suspected of having contracted this variant as well and is also in isolation.
Several other countries have also reported mutation-related diagnosed cases, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Gibraltar, Iceland, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, South Africa has reported that a different but similarly devastating strain has started spreading within its borders. As a result of these developments, travel restrictions have started to tighten around the world.
However, the current COVID-19 vaccines that are now being administered are expected to be just as effective against this mutation.