麻州發現第一宗新冠病毒變種個案

(Boston Orange編譯) 麻州公共衛生廳(DPH)1月17日宣佈，麻州出現第一宗新冠病毒變種，B.1.1.7，和英國發現的一樣。

染患變種新冠病毒者在1月初時出現症狀，並檢測確診。依照美國疾病防治局(CDC)訂立的辨識新冠病毒變種監測過程，麻州公共衛生廳把病原樣本送往州外實驗室後，16日傍晚獲悉檢測結果。

患者是一名20多歲，住在波士頓的女生。她才去過英國，回家後次日就病了。去英國前，她的檢測結果是陰性。接觸追蹤者在檢測陽性結果出來後，已訪問過這名女生，也辨識了她的緊密接觸。確認病因後，麻州公共衛生廳人員又再次和她晤談過。

麻州公共衛生實驗室和門診實驗室，以及學術機構合作夥伴一直都在做B.1.1.7變種的監控檢測。監測方式包括陽性新冠病毒樣本一部分的基因測序。

聯邦疾病防治中心已指出，迄今美國境內有14州88宗新冠病毒變種個案。

由於這一變種病毒的傳染性更強，以及其他州及國家已發現的感染個案數，麻州公共衛生廳已預期這變種最終會在麻州發現。降低公共健康危險的方法仍然一樣。個人出外時必須繼續戴口罩，包住面部，保持6英尺的社交據劉，生病了就不要出門，如果有症狀，或是經辨識為確診者的緊密接觸者就要去檢測。

Department of Public Health announces first case of COVID-19 variant confirmed in Massachusetts

1/17/2021

• Department of Public Health

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today announced that the first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 has been detected in Massachusetts. This is the same variant initially discovered in the United Kingdom. The individual developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19. A genetic sample was sent to an out-of-state laboratory as part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) established surveillance process to identify COVID-19 variants. The State Public Health Laboratory was notified last evening of the results.

The individual is a Boston resident, a female in her 20’s.  She had traveled to the United Kingdom and became ill the day after she returned. She had tested negative prior to leaving the UK. The individual was interviewed by contact tracers at the time the initial positive result was received, and close contacts were identified. She is being re-interviewed by public health officials now that the variant has been identified as the cause of illness.

Surveillance testing for the B.1.1.7 variant has been ongoing at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory in collaboration with clinical diagnostic laboratories and academic partners. Surveillance consists of genomic sequencing on portions of COVID-19 positive specimens.

To date, the CDC has reported 88 cases from 14 states in the United States.

Given the increased transmissibility of this variant and the number of states and other countries that have found infected cases, the Department expected the variant to arrive in Massachusetts eventually. The public health risk reduction measures remain the same. Individuals must continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, maintain 6-foot social distancing, stay home when you are sick, and get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact.