San Bernardino County Health officials confirmed the presence of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus. The B117 strain of COVID-19 was detected Dec. 20 in samples collected from two residents of Big Bear. A person from the contaminated household had contact with a traveler who had returned from the United Kingdom Dec. 11, then exhibited symptoms three days later.
The B117 strain “seems to spread more easily and quickly,” said County Health Officer Dr. Michael Sequeria. It contains a protein that makes it easier to bind and stick to an enzyme found in human cells. Researchers are working to learn more about the more infectious version of COVID-19. Health officials have collected no evidence suggesting it causes more severe illness in patients or might be less resistant to vaccines.
“From what we know from experience with this mutation is that it’s unlikely to have a large impact on vaccine-induced immunity or an existing immunity from previous strains,” said the CDC.
