COVID-19 variant B-1351 identified in Jackson County

JACKSON COUNTY, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has identified COVID–19 variant B–1351 in the state.

A child tested positive with the variant Monday in Jackson County. The variant was originally detected in early October of 2020 in South Africa.

Cases caused by B-1351 were first reported in the U.S. at the end of January. This latest variant shares mutations with COVID–19 variant B–117.

The state health department says available COVID–19 vaccines do work against this new variant.