‘Double Mutant’ Coronavirus Variant Detected in San Francisco – By Alexa Lardieri (US News) / April 5 2021
The variant, which is driving a spike in India but had not been seen in the U.S., is referred to as a ‘double mutant’ because it carries two mutations that help the virus attach to cells.
A NEW “DOUBLE MUTANT” strain of the coronavirus has been discovered in San Francisco, marking the first time the variant, thought to be behind a surge of cases in India, has been identified in the United States.
The mutation is referred to as a “double mutant” because it carries two mutations that help the virus attach to cells, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The Stanford Clinical Virology Lab identified and confirmed one case of the variant that originated in India.
The case is a patient from a Stanford Health Care clinic and likely occurred in Santa Clara County, according to the Chronicle. County health officials said they are not monitoring the new variant because it isn’t on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of concern, according to the Chronicle.
