Public Health officials in South Carolina said on Thursday that they have identified the first two cases in the South African variant of COVID-19.
Although there is no evidence that it causes a more severe disease, it is suspected to be more resistant to the existing vaccines.
The two infected do not have any travel history, neither the cases are connected in any way. This suggests the variant is already spreading across the country.
President Joe Biden had earlier enforced a travel ban on South Africa considering the possibility of the spread of the variant.
Politico cites The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying in a statement that it was aware of the cases and "early in its efforts to understand this variant and will continue to provide updates as we learn more."
/Next-COVID-Strain.jpeg "People walk past an advertisement warning about COVID-19 in Manchester, England, on Saturday. (Photo: Reuters)")
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/WHO-COVID-END.jpg "Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, speaks with Charles Michel, EU Council President, during the G7 leaders summit at Castle Elmau in Kruen, Germany, on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Michael Kappeler/Pool via AP)")
/Monkeypox-Outbreak-Health-Emergency.jpg "Daniel Rofin, 41, receives a vaccine against Monkeypox from a health professional in medical center in Barcelona. (Photo: AP)")
/South-American-Monkeypox-Cases.webp "The monkeypox virus has been found in 78 countries since early May according to the WHO [File: Rick Bowmer/AP Photo]")
/Global-Health-Emergency-Monkeypox.jpg "Test tubes labelled \"Monkeypox virus positive\" are seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Dado Ruvic)")
