Bismarck   (NDDoH) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently added to its “variant of concern” list the coronavirus strains B1427 and B1429, which were first detected in California. Early research shows these variants are about 20% more infectious than other strains common in the U.S.

Kirby Kruger, the North Dakota Department of Health’s disease control director, says, preliminary research indicates immunity after contracting and recovering from these strains may not be guaranteed, said The COVID-19 vaccines commonly administered in the U.S. also may not be as effective against the strains detected in California. In contrast, the vaccines have shown in early research to be effective in preventing people from getting sick from the variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

Seven North Dakota residents have tested positive with the strain detected in the U.K. The Department of Health says the variants have been identified throughout the state, though it declines to say specifically where the positive individuals were found.

Although only a total of 11 cases of COVID-19 variants have been identified throughout the state, the Department of Health says there are likely more cases in North Dakota because many people who are positive do not get tested and the state is not able to screen all tests for variants.

Kruger, adds, “I suspect that these variants are probably circulating within the state and have just flown under the radar from detection.”