JACKSON COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The first Michigan case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351, also known as the South African variant, has been identified in Jackson County.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the case in a male child on Monday. Investigations are underway to determine close contacts and see if there are additional cases associated with this case.
Originally detected in early October of 2020 in South Africa, B.1.351 shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases of this variant were first reported in the United States at the end of January.
It is believed to be more contagious, but there has been no indication that it affects clinical outcomes or disease severity compared to the general COVID-19 virus.
