Virus variants pose new threats to US

At least three cases of a coronavirus variant that originated in the United Kingdom have been detected in North Carolina, and at least two cases of a second variant, first found in South Africa, have been reported in South Carolina.

Posted 1:03 p.m. Jan 29, 2021 — Updated 12:01 a.m. Jan 30, 2021

Adam Owens

, WRAL anchor/reporter

DURHAM, N.C. — At least three cases of a coronavirus variant that originated in the United Kingdom have been detected in North Carolina, and at least two cases of a second variant, first found in South Africa, have been reported in South Carolina.

The variants could put more strain on area hospitals, as they are believed to be more contagious than the virus the U.S. has been battling for almost a year.

"The South African variant does appear to be more contagious. It transmits somewhat easier than the common variant does," said David Montefiori, a virologist at Duke University. "There is no evidence that it makes people sicker and is more likely to be lethal."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 200 cases of U.K. variant had been detected in 21 U.S. states as of last week. That included one in an adult in Mecklenburg County.

This week, the Guilford County Division of Public Health confirmed a variant case there, and NBC affiliate WITN News reports another case has been reported in Onslow County.

“While expected, identification of this COVID-19 variant in North Carolina is concerning, especially at the same time as we are already seeing very high numbers of cases,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The two cases of the South African variant in South Carolina were the first such cases reported in the U.S. But officials there said they believe it's more widespread because neither of the two patients had traveled, meaning they likely contracted the variant from people with whom they had contact.

Duke virologist: 'We don't need to panic' over new coronavirus variants

Coronavirus vaccines likely will protect against the variants, according to Montefiori, but continued mutations of the virus could make getting a handle on the pandemic more difficult.

"Scientists are expecting that there will be substantial prevention of infection, or at least not as substantial increased risk of reinfection, with these new variants with people that have already been infected with the common variant. So, that is good news," he said.

Vaccines produced by Novavax and Johnson & Johnson, which are still in clinical trials and not yet approved for use in the U.S., have been tested in South Africa already, he said.

"Both of those vaccines were 50 to 60 percent effective in South Africa. Now, that does not sound very good when we are used to hearing 95 percent efficacy against the common variant, but it is still very good," Montefiori said, noting the seasonal flu vaccine is usually only about 50 percent effective.

"These companies are starting to modify their vaccines now so they will be able to target the new variant in South Africa more effectively," he said. "I think we can expect to see those vaccines as a booster roll out in the future."

Although coronavirus tests don't determine which variant someone might have, Montefiori said efforts are increasing to monitor variants in the U.S.

"We have seen this virus already evolving in ways that it is moving away from the immunity that the vaccines induce," he said. "That is the biggest fear – that this virus will eventually move in that direction and become a bigger problem than current variants are.

"The potential concern [is] that a new variant could reignite the pandemic," he added.

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