Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 3, 2021

First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in the United States — Minnesota, January 2021

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  • On January 25, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health identified the first US cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern P.1 (first identified in persons from Brazil) in two individuals, one of whom had a recent travel history to Brazil.  Whole genome sequencing revealed identical sequences from both individuals, who lived in the same household, with 15 of the 17 mutations associated with the P.1 variant. No high-risk exposures were identified among health care personnel with whom these individuals interacted, among whom 22 (20%) submitted specimens for testing, and no positive test results were reported.

Firestone et al. (Mar 3, 2021). First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 in the United States — Minnesota, January 2021. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7010e1