Brazil confirms first cases of Covid-19 caused by Indian variant B.1.617

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil confirmed today, May 20, the first cases of Covid-19 in the country with the Indian variant strain. It was detected in several crew members of a ship coming from South Africa, which was isolated since last weekend in the port of São Luis, capital of the northeastern state of Maranhão.

According to the first results of the tests carried out, the Indian variant, scientifically known as B.1.617 and qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a “global concern”, was identified in six of the 24 crew members of the ship by the health authorities.

According to the regional health secretary, Carlos Lula, at a press conference, one of the infected crew members remains in a private hospital in São Luis, and his condition is stable.

Another 14 crew members with Covid-19 remain on the vessel – two of them with mild symptoms and 12 more asymptomatic – 9 others tested negative.

According to the official, the cases of infection with the Indian variant may be higher since about a hundred people had contact with the crew that tested positive. Lula pointed out that the corresponding tests will be carried out on all of them, who will be monitored and, if necessary, isolated to avoid the spread of the variant.

The ship “Zhi Shandong” came from South Africa and was chartered by Vale’s mining company to deliver iron ore to São Luis.

Lula said the vessel remains anchored off the coast of São Luis, and all crew members are isolated and accompanied by health professionals.

Alerts about the possible arrival of the Indian variant in Brazil began on the 15th when a 54-year-old man of Indian nationality was admitted to a hospital in São Luis with symptoms of Covid-19.

The case occurred just a few hours after Brazil banned the entry of foreign passengers from India, registering successive records of deaths and contagions of coronavirus for several days.

With more than 441,000 deaths and 15.8 million infections, Brazil is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic.

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