More states are identifying the extremely infectious infection version.

The listing of states to recognize the hazardous brand-new coronavirus version is expanding.

Texas, Connecticut and also Pennsylvania validated their initial situations on Thursday, signing up with California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida and also New York.

Florida contends the very least 22 validated situations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and also Prevention. California has actually reported at the very least 26.

Experts have actually alerted that the United States is woefully unfit to track the quickly transmissible version. Without a durable, nationwide system to recognize hereditary variants of the coronavirus, states are left by themselves to recognize the version.

The Texas Department of Health and also Human Services stated a grown-up male local of Harris County, that includes Houston, without any background of traveling evaluated favorable for the coronavirus. Genetic sequencing today revealed that the infection was triggered by the version.

“The fact that this person had no travel history suggests this variant is already circulating in Texas,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, the commissioner of state wellness solutions, stated in a declaration. “It’s not surprising that it showed up here given how rapidly it spreads.”

Dr. Hellerstedt prompted Texans to “redouble our commitment” to social distancing and public health measures.

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said two individuals between 15 and 25 years old had tested positive for the variant. Both had traveled outside of the state, he said, one to Ireland and the other to New York. Genetic sequencing showed the cases are unrelated.

Pennsylvania also reported that its case was because of international exposure.

Last month, Britain became the first country to identify the new variant, which is now surging there and burdening its hospitals with new cases. Now, the variant has been identified in at least 33 countries, including Britain. Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe, called the spread of the variant across the continent “an alarming situation.”

“Without increased control to slow its spread, there will be an increased impact on already stressed and pressurized health facilities,” Dr. Kluge said at a briefing on Thursday, warning that the variant may, over time, “replace other circulating lineages” as it has in Britain.

Dr. Kluge urged countries to continue to investigate transmission, increase genetic sequencing and to share data.