South Carolina health officials said they found two people infected with the South African variant.

Neither had recent travel history and the two did not appear to be connected, suggesting it's spreading in the community.

But Dr Brandon Traxler of the state's Health Department said it was too early to know just how widespread the variant was in South Carolina.

These are the first ones we have identified on DSO Well, there is no known travel history with ease.

We also are doing deeper dives into into other history that they might have had our exposures.

I think that it is really too early with two cases to make predictions based off of that.

The presence of the South African variant in the U.

S is especially concerning now that several laboratory studies have shown it reduces vaccine effectiveness.

So far, vaccines from Madonna and Pfizer, beyond text, still appeared to protect against the South African variant, but the company said this week they're considering making new versions of their shots just in case.

The 500 said it is aware of the two cases and noted there is no evidence the variant causes MAWR severe illness.

South African Mutant is 50% MAWR infectious and has been detected in at least 20 countries.

Reuters reported earlier this week that President Joe Biden will ban entry for most non U.

S citizens who have recently been in South Africa, but that the ban wouldn't start until Saturday.