B117 COVID-19 Variant First Identified In UK Detected In Illinois

EVANSTON, IL — Public health officials announced the first case of the coronavirus strain first identified in the United Kingdom has been detected in Illinois. The case was identified by Northwestern University medical school researchers who analyzed specimens from samples of COVID-19-poistive tests, according to the Chicago and Illinois departments of public health.

The new variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, was first found in the United States in Colorado about a week ago. It has since been found in several other states.

“When we learned of this and other COVID-19 variants, we increased our surveillance efforts by performing genomic sequence testing on an increased number of specimens,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a release. “We will continue to collaborate with our academic partners, local health departments like CDPH, hospitals, and the CDC to monitor for additional cases.”

Public health officials say the variant appears to be more contagious than most other strains of the virus circulating in the community, but there is no evidence it is more deadly or resistant to treatment or vaccines.

An investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the person who was infected with the new strain traveled to the UK and the Middle East during the two weeks before they were diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Chicago public health officials. Because of its increased transmissibility, the CDC says B.1.1.7 is likely to be the dominant strain of the virus in the United States by March.

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Dr. Egon Ozer, an assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Northwestern University, said in a release some data suggests the UK variant is more infectious due to a higher concentration of the virus in the respiratory tract.

“It is important to monitor the spread of virus variants,” Ozer said. “We expected this variant to show up eventually. We will continue to sequence and study these samples.”

In December, Ozer and a team of researchers, including Dr. Judd Hultquist and Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Redondo, sequenced more than 180 samples selected randomly from people who came to coronavirus testing clinics that would otherwise have been thrown away, according to public health officials.

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“This news isn’t surprising and doesn’t change our guidance around COVID-19. We must double down on the recommended safety strategies we know help stop the spread of this virus,” added Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Department of Public Health chief. “In order to protect Chicago, please continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands often, do not have outside guests in your home, and get vaccinated when it is your turn.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the discovery of the more contagious British variant shows Illinois residents must not let their guard down.

"We must remain vigilant if we are to maintain our progress," he said Friday at a news conference. "Honestly, that's going to be up to each and every one of us. To keep our schools open and see an economic recovery that restores jobs and businesses, we've got to wear a mask, limit interactions with people outside our households and get vaccinated when it's our turn."