PHOENIX – The first case of the South African Covid-19 variant has been found in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services says.
ADHSA made the announcement on Friday in conjunction with the Maricopa County Health Department of Health and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGIN).
The group says variant strain was found in two test samples from the state.
According to the CDC, this variant was first found in the United States in January and spread at a rapid rate. According to the CDC, all indications are that the covid-authorized vaccine appears to be effective against the South African variant.
ADHS says it is common for the virus to mutate as it spreads, and new types are expected over time.
“Other times, new types appear and remain delayed,” ADHSA said in a release. “It’s not known how widely variants are spread in Arizona. The discovery of this variant in the state is another reminder that Arizonaans should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. “
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