The Centers for Disease Control and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are reporting a COVID-19 case in Sedgwick County involving the Brazilian variant of the virus.
A case investigation is underway to find out how the person became infected with this variant, and determine if others may have been exposed. No other details have been released involving the patient.
The variant was confirmed by lab testing at KDHE.
The P.1 variant was originally identified in four travelers from Brazil who were tested during routine screening at an airport in Tokyo, Japan. The variant was detected in the United States at the end of January, 2021 and has been found in 31 states and territories. Health officials say there is still much to learn about the transmission and severity of the variant.
KDHE secretary Dr. Lee Norman said people should continue to take precautions, including the wearing of masks and social distancing, along with good hygiene and staying home if they are ill.
Sedgwick County has also reported a case of the UK variant of COVID-19, along with Ellis County. A South African variant was identified in Finney County.
