Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced today that an Anchorage resident who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection last month was infected with a variant strain of the virus known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in September in the United Kingdom.
January 26, 2021 ANCHORAGE – The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced today that an Anchorage resident who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection last month was infected with a variant strain of the virus known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in September in the United Kingdom. This is the first identification in Alaska of the B.1.1.7 strain, or any of the variant strains that are raising concerns among public health officials.
“Viruses constantly change through mutation so it’s not unexpected to find variants of the virus,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin. “However, B.1.1.7 is one of several SARS-CoV-2 variants that has been carefully tracked because it appears to spread more easily and quickly than other strains of the virus.”
In December, an Anchorage resident became infected with the new strain, which spreads faster and more easily between people, a state epidemiologist said.
Wed, 01/27/2021 - 9:01am
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