Scientists Discover Mutation of U.K. Coronavirus Strain in Oregon

Scientists in Oregon have discovered a mutated version of the highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 first discovered in Britain.

Researchers have identified just one case of the variant in Oregon, but genetic analysis suggests it was contracted from the community and did not originate in the patient. They also warned that this variant has a mutation that may make it less susceptible to vaccines.

The find was published in a database shared by scientists.

The U.K. variant of the coronavirus was first detected in September and has been spreading rapidly across the U.S., currently accounting for at least 2,500 cases in 46 states, according to The New York Times. However, this version of that variant appears to be more contagious and more deadly than the original version and could account for most of the infections in America in the near future.

Discovered in a patient in Portland, it is similar to the U.K. strain but carries a mutation seen in variants of the virus being spread in South Africa, Brazil and New York City. This mutation has also already been observed in Britain.

The mutation was in a sample scientists collected from an outbreak in a health care setting. Of the 13 samples analyzed, 10 were the U.K. strain and one was the new mutation.

"We didn't import this from elsewhere in the world – it occurred spontaneously," Brian O'Roak, a geneticist at Oregon Health and Science University who led the work, told the Times.

The discovery is "of growing concern" because clinical trials in South Africa have indicated that the current COVID-19 vaccines could be less effective against the mutation. However, Pfizer and Moderna have already begun testing new versions of their vaccines against variants.