ARCHIVED - Huelva province on alert for Brazilian strain of Covid due to outbreak among sheep shearers
The Andalusian and Spanish authorities have been informed of an outbreak in Extremadura amongst sheep shearers from Uruguay, that could spread to other areas.
Huelva’s health authorities and epidemiological surveillance system are on alert following the detection in the neighbouring region of Extremadura of a possible outbreak of the Brasilian strain of Covid.
The outbreak affects a group of shearers originally from Uruguay who have been in close contact with several other teams of shearers from Andalusia, Extremadura and Portugal.
At this time of year, teams of sheareres move around Portugal, Extremadura, Seville, Cordoba and the Sierra de Aracena and Andévalo areas of Huelva, travelling from one sheep farm to another to provide their services.
There is, therefore, some concern that infected shearers may have spread the virus to colleagues and citizens on public transport, farms and other places in which they have been working and staying.
So far, the health authorities have said that the outbreak is under control and have isolated several villages in Extremadura, where 23 cases have been confirmed. A hundred and thirty-seven people are in self-isolation due to close contact, and further cases cannot be ruled out yet.
Moreover, although the outbreak is suspected to be of the Brazilian strain of the virus, it will not be confirmed until Wednesday or Thursday.
This variant is of particular concern as it appears to not only be more contagious than others, but also has some resistance against vaccines and there are fears that patients who have already had coronavirus or even been vaccinated already, may not be immune to this particular variant, which is predominant in Brazil.
Image: Junta de Andalucía