On Tuesday, health experts warned people against the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, which is considered to be more Delta variant.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert in the Philippines, warned the elderly or people with underlying diseases to take more precautions against the more infectious Lambda variant, and pointed out that it may lead to a surge in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization.
The Lambda variant, previously known as C.37, was first discovered in Peru in August 2020. It was classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 15. Since then, the variant has spread to at least 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, and classified it as a “variant under investigation” on June 23.
“If you talk about a highly spread variant, then it will lead to a surge in cases and hospitalizations. Most likely for those who are vulnerable, this may also be a higher risk of death,” said Solante, a member of the Philippines.Vaccine Expert Panel told CNN Philippines.
After Malaysian health officials warned that this mutation could be more deadly than the Delta variant originally found in India, Solante issued a warning.Researchers from the University of Chile also Published a preprint It warned last week that this strain may mutate to make it better to escape vaccination than other strains.
They wrote: “Our data shows for the first time that mutations in the spike protein of the Lambda variant allow neutralizing antibodies to escape and increase infectivity.”
The WHO stated that it has not found evidence of the effects of the Lambda variant, and pointed out that further research is needed to better understand the spread of the variant and how current vaccines protect recipients from it.
It recently stated that Lambda “carries many mutations with suspected phenotypic effects, such as increased transmission or increased resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”
Jairo Mendez-Rico, a WHO virologist, added that they did not find any signs that Lambda mutations would cause higher mortality. German wave.
In Peru, the country with the highest mortality rate, the Lambda variant was found in 81% of all COVID-19 cases sequenced since April. In neighboring Chile, this mutation accounts for one-third of all new infections recorded.
According to reports, Lambda variants have also spread across Latin America and the United Kingdom, and as of Friday, officials there have recorded at least 8 cases. Government figures.
According to US media reports, there are currently no known cases of Lambda variants in the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A volunteer was vaccinated against Covid-19 in Houston, Texas on May 13, 2021, and medical staff at a hospital filed a lawsuit against him for requesting the vaccine
Photo: GETTY IMAGES North America/Brandon Bell
