A variant case of coronavirus, initially spotted at Brazil, was first identified with United StatesMinnesota authorities said Monday.
The patient, a resident of this Canadian border state, fell ill in early January after returning from a stay in Brazil. He tested positive on January 9.
The United States has already registered cases of the so-called British coronavirus mutation on its territory. This could become the main strain circulating in the country by March, say the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the main US public health agency.
Various mutations
Variants are different versions of the original coronavirus, which appear over time due to various mutations. A normal phenomenon in the life of a virus.
Many mutations of Sars-CoV-2 have been observed since its appearance, the vast majority without consequence. However, some may give it an advantage for its survival, including greater transmissibility.
The American biotechnology company Moderna has so far announced that its vaccine against Covid-19 remains effective against the variants of the coronavirus, in particular the British, but that a reduction in the protection against the South African variant has been observed.
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