First case of B.1.351 variant identified in Central Virginia
Table of Contents
The first known case of the COVID-19 virus variant B.1.351 has been confirmed in the Central Virginia region, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Officials did not indicate where the case occurred.
The person with the case had no history of travel during the exposure period, according to the VDH.
The B.1.351 variant, which first emerged in South Africa in late 2020, is associated with increased person-to-person transmission of COVID-19, though there is no evidence that infections with the variant cause more severe disease.
To date, the variant has been identified in 19 other U.S. states or jurisdictions. It had previously been identified in Virginia.
The state now has identified a total of 11 cases of the B.1.351 variant and 31 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom. Officials expect that other cases with the variants will be identified.
