CDC U.S. Variant Update: B.1.1.7 Dominates As B.1.617.x Sublineages Begin To Appear

 Credit CDC

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Overnight the CDC updated their bi-weekly data on Variant Proportions in the United States (current as of 04/24/21) that continues to show the growth, and dominance, of the B.1.1.7 variant across the entire country.  

Even California and Arizona, previous strongholds for the B.1.427/B.1.429 (aka `California') variants have become dominated by the viral juggernaut that is B.1.1.7. 

While most of the other variants on the watch list continue to give ground to B.1.1.7, the P.1 variant  is an exception, having increased its share from 3.6% to 5.0% over the past two weeks.  Illinois (20.4%), Massachusetts (10.6%), and Florida (7.2%) currently report the most cases, with California and Indiana close behind. 

New in this week's update are the inclusion of several new variants of the B.1.617 lineage that the CDC added to their watchlist late last week. 

The impact of these B.1.617.x variants thus far in the United States has been very small, but will be watched closely over the next few weeks given the deteriorating situation in India, where it appears to be out performing other variants. 

While B.1.1.7 continues to expand and dominate in the United States, it is reportedly giving ground to B.1.617.x in South East Asia, making these emerging variants underdogs well worth keeping our eye on.