The third U.S. case of the  COVID-19 variant has been found in Colorado just hours after the second case was confirmed in .  <br>In a issued on Thursday afternoon, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said the case was identified in an adult woman who lives in Arapahoe County, where Aurora is located.<br>She had recently traveled to Southern Africa for vacation, but it's unclear which countries she has visited, when she developed symptoms or when she tested positive.<br>The woman was fully vaccinated and is experiencing mild symptoms, but is currently in isolation at home.<br>All close contacts have tested negative and CDPHE is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify passengers who may been exposed on the airplane or while the woman was in Africa.<br>It comes just hours after the second case was confirmed in a Minnesota man who had recently attended an anime convention in New York City last month with more than 50,000 attendees.<br>The variant was initially detected by South African officials last week, and experts are uncertain of its origins.<br>A recent study found Omicron is 2.4 times more infectious and is believed to be potentially vaccine evasive due to its many mutations. <br>South Africa has experienced a massive surge in Covid cases since the variant was first discovered, with the nation reporting 11,535 new cases on Thursday after averaging less than 500 new cases per day only two weeks ago. <br>The news of the variant's spread in the U.S.


comes on the heels of a holiday party in Norway that is believed to be the largest Omicron variant outbreak to date, with at least 50 vaccinated attendees testing positive.<br>SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO<br> A Minnesota man who attended Anime NYC in late November has the second confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the U.S.


He has no recent history of international travel, meaning he contracted the virus from someone else in the country. Pictured: Two cosplayers at Anime NYC<br> more videos

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Minnesota health officials report that the infected man felt mild symptoms the quickly resolved.

They also say he abided by public health guidelines. Pictured: Two members of the Minnesota National Guard prepare to assist a local hospital treat Covid patients in St Paul on November 22<br> more videos

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The Minnesota Department of Health