Brazil’s Paraná state confirms first case of Indian (“Delta”) variant coronavirus

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On June 2,the Paraná government confirmed the presence of a case of the Indian Covid-19 variant (formerly called B.1.617, now called “Delta”) in the state.

The virus was found in a 71-year-old woman, with comorbidities, living in Apucarana, in the northwestern region of the state.

The identification was performed by genomic sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, performed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) with a sample from a confirmed case in Paraná.

The patient had the RT-PCR exam collected for the diagnosis of Covid-19 on April 26. She was hospitalized, but was later discharged. According to the State Health Secretariat (SESA), the woman lived with her 74-year-old husband and 58-year-old son. All three were diagnosed with Covid-19. The son died on May 17.

The secretariat has not reported whether anyone in the family has recently traveled to India or had contact with people who have been in the country.

However, the agency reported that the municipal Epidemiological Surveillance team is monitoring family members and close contacts and has opened an epidemiological investigation into the case.

In addition to this case, SESA reported that there is a case of suspected infection with the Delta variant: a 38-year-old man, living in Cascavel, in the west of the state. Fiocruz has received a blood sample from this man and the secretariat is waiting for the results.