Variant infects 35 in Dane County
B.1.1.7 outbreak detected at child care center
“This B.1.1.7 variant is a brand new ballgame. It infects kids very readily. Unlike the previous strains of the virus, we didn’t see children under eighth grade get infected often, or they were not frequently very ill. They didn’t transmit to the rest of the community.”
Michael Osterholm
Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota
An outbreak of a contagious COVID-19 variant at a Dane County child care center has infected 35 people, including 16 children and five child care workers, the county health department said.
The B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom, has been found in cases associated with the center, according to Public Health Madison and Dane County.
The virus spread quickly among children, family members and workers, the health department said. All the children who tested positive are 6 years old or younger.
“This is an important reminder that we must all continue to take precautions,” health department director Janel Heinrich said in a statement.
Fourteen family members of children and workers are among the 35 people who have tested positive.
“Most of the children associated with the outbreak had very mild symptoms,” the health department said in a news release. The outbreak at the child care center comes as experts raise concerns about how the B.1.1.7 variant is affecting children and Milwaukee Public Schools gears up for the return of most students to classrooms.
The B.1.1.7 variant is 50% to 100% more infectious than the original strain and causes more severe illness 50% to 60% of the time, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, on “Meet the Press” Sunday.
The variant presents an increased risk for children, who are not yet authorized to get the available vaccines.
“This B.1.1.7 variant is a brand new ballgame,” Osterholm said. “It infects kids very readily. Unlike the previous strains of the virus, we didn’t see children under eighth grade get infected often, or they were not frequently very ill. They didn’t transmit to the rest of the community.”
Variant cases are ballooning in nearby Michigan and Minnesota, especially in schools.
Michigan has identified more than 1,200 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant — second in the nation behind Florida. The biggest sources of new outbreaks in Michigan are K-12 schools, according to state data.
And Osterholm said the B.1.1.7 variant had been linked to 749 schools in Minnesota in the last two weeks.
Wisconsin has identified 149 variant cases, according to state data. All but 10 are the B.1.1.7 variant.
Wisconsin data does not detail variant outbreaks in schools specifically. But it does show educational facilities have the most active outbreak investigations of any setting, with 499. In second place are non-health care workplaces, with 329 active investigations into outbreaks.
Every district in the state has at least some in-person instruction, although Milwaukee and Madison remain almost entirely virtual. Many schools reopened because research showed the risk of transmitting the original coronavirus strain is generally low among young children.
Milwaukee Public Schools students in kindergarten through third grade will have the option to return to school buildings starting April 14, the school board recently decided. Most students will be able to return by April 26.
In Madison, only the youngest students have returned to school buildings, while students in grades three and up are scheduled to return in phases in April. Third graders will start the phased reopening plan April 13.
The Dane County health department asked parents to remain vigilant in noting symptoms in children. Testing children is key to stopping the spread of the virus to people who might have more severe reactions.
“Symptoms of COVID-19 that are common in children can include fever, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and nasal congestion. Please don’t mistake these symptoms for seasonal allergies; get tested and rule out COVID-19 first,” the department said.
Heinrich also urged everyone 16 and older to get the vaccine to help protect children who cannot do so yet. The state opened eligibility to everyone Monday.
“As more and more adults are vaccinated, I hope we are able to form a circle of protection around our children so that everyone in our community can stay healthy,” she said.
Latest vaccine numbers
Total doses administered:
3,087,492
Wisconsin residents with at least one dose: 1,922,832 (33% of the population)
Fully vaccinated residents: 1,171,309 (20.1% of the population)
Residents 65 and older with at least one dose: 778,846 (76.6% of 65+ population)