UMass Medical School researchers tracking COVID mutations

Photo | Grant Welker UMass Medical School in Worcester

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By Grant Welker

A team of researchers at UMass Medical School are working with colleagues to closely monitor the potential spread of new coronavirus strains in the Worcester area.

Researchers at the Worcester school are working with a statewide network in partnership with the Broad Institute, a collaboration between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UMass Medical School said Wednesday.

In mid-January, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health identified the first Worcester County patient to be found with a new strain originating in England. The patient, whose name and hometown weren't released, was tested at UMass Memorial Medical Center. In all, five cases of the English strain have been documented in Massachusetts, according to the CDC.

New strains have also been found that originated in Brazil and South Africa, with five cases between the two strains documented in three states. The new variants appear to spread more easily, according to the CDC. Vaccines already in use are believed to be effective against the new strains.

UMass Medical School researchers are analyzing genetic sequences of coronavirus samples to closely monitor the potential spread of new strains locally. They hope to be able to find targeted approaches to better stop the spread of the new variants.

In all, Worcester County has had nearly 60,000 coronavirus cases and 1,851 confirmed and suspected deaths as of Tuesday, according to the DPH.