First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in the United States — Minnesota, January 2021

Abstract

has been receiving 100 specimens per week (50 from each of two clinical partners) with low cycle threshold (Ct) values for routine surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On January 25, 2021, MDH identified the SARS-CoV-2 variant P.1 in one specimen through this surveillance system using whole genome sequencing, representing the first identified case of this variant in the United States. The P.1 variant was first identified in travelers from Brazil during routine airport screening in Tokyo, Japan, in early January 2021 (1). This variant has been associated with increased transmissibility (2), and there are concerns that mutations in the spike protein receptor-binding domain might disrupt both vaccine-induced and natural immunity (3,4). As of February 28, 2021, a total of 10 P.1 cases had been identified in the United States, including the two cases described in this report, followed by one case each in Alaska, Florida, Maryland, and Oklahoma (5). The first Minnesota P.1 variant case was identified in a person who became symptomatic in early January and was hospitalized for 9 days. During the case investigation, the person reported having traveled to southeastern Brazil within the 14 days before symptom onset. The patient's travel partner, who lived in the same household, also had symptoms of COVID-19 and received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result after returning. The diagnostic specimen from this household contact was obtained for whole genome sequencing and confirmed to be the P.1 variant. The sequences from both patients were identical and had 15 of the 17 mutations associated with the P.1 variant, including the 10 S-gene mutations (2). The Minnesota patients were reinterviewed to obtain information on exposures and close contacts. † This activity was reviewed by CDC and conducted consistent with applicable federal law and policy. §

The Emerging Concern and Interest SARS-CoV-2 Variants

“…Cases of P.1 variant infection were observed among travelers arriving in Japan from Brazil on January 2021 [ 57 ]. The first case of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant in the US was identified in Minnesota resident with travel history to the southeastern part of Brazil within the 14 days before symptom onset [ 58 ]. Currently, almost 500 cases of this variant have been reported in the US and it is present in 31 states [ 30 ].…”

Non-Thermal Plasma as a Novel Strategy for Treating or Preventing Viral Infection and Associated Disease

“…Just over one year after the initial outbreaks, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread through populations on all seven continents, resulting in a total of 119,220,681 cases and 2,646,826 deaths (as of March 10th , 2021) [12]. The emergence of new viral variants, such as the B.1.1.7 variant, further complicates efforts to contain the virus and raises important questions about the efficacies of approved vaccines that were developed against the original viral isolate [13]. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be the cause of considerable morbidity, mortality, socio-economic burden and brings acute attention to the disruptive potential of emerging pathogenic viruses and the urgent need to find new methods for stopping them [4,5].…”

Identification of druggable host targets needed for SARS-CoV-2 infection by combined pharmacological evaluation and cellular network directed prioritization both in vitro and in vivo

“…Others have shown that challenge by the intranasal route results in virus replication in the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys and gut (31,32) with titers increasing over 2-3 days and then subsiding after day 5 in most tissues, but with titers in the brain continuing to rise to >10 8 pfu/g tissue. The latter is thought to result in severe symptoms, which may not be relevant to human disease outcomes.…”

“…However, given the emergence of more contagious and potentially pathogenic variants, and the need for more effective therapies for patients, the search for new therapeutics remains a priority (7,8). These efforts were launched by a series of repurposing screens of varying sizes.…”