Lambda, a new Covid strain, found in 29 countries: Symptoms and why is it called as 'variant of interest'?

 Lambda, a new Covid strain, found in 29 countries: Symptoms and why is it called as 'variant of interest'?

By Madhuri Adnal

| Updated: Friday, June 18, 2021, 15:23 [IST]

Washington, June 18: Yet another coronavirus (COVID-19) mutation, known as 'Lambda variant' was recently added to World Health Organization (WHO) list of variants of interest. The agency is monitoring more than 50 different Covid variants, but not all become enough of a public health threat to make the WHO's formal watchlist.

Lambda, a new Covid variant, affecting 29 countries: Symptoms and efficacy of vaccines

The variants are divided into two categories: of interest and of concern. The difference between the two is that those of concern can cause epidemiological problems and the others do not yet have that capacity.

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The WHO said it is tracking one more variant of interest, first seen in Peru and called Lambda, which has genetic markers suggesting that it is more transmissible.

Lineage C.37 of SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in Peru in August 2020. The lambda variant has multiple mutations in the spike protein' that might increase transmissibility or strengthen the virus's resistance to antibodies.

It was on 14 June 2021, WHO designated it as Variant of Interest (VOI) and named it Lambda on 31 May 2021.

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At present, the Lambda variant has been identified in 29 countries, with greater circulation in Latin America, in particular Chile (31% overall prevalence), Peru (9%), Ecuador (8%) and Argentina (3%). However, it is most prevalent in South America, with officials in Peru reporting that 81 per cent of cases sequenced since April are linked to the Lambda variant.

The WHO said Lambda has genetic markers suggesting it may be more transmissible and possibly more resistant to neutralizing antibodies, though more studies are needed to gauge the impact of countermeasures as well as vaccine effectiveness.

Lambda variant: Symptoms and efficacy of vaccines

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The symptoms do not seem very different from the most 'known' Covid-19, although it is still being studied by world organizations: fever, headache, cough and cold as well as loss of smell.

According to the WHO report, in-depth studies on "phenotypic" impacts will be needed to understand how to control its spread.

Why the WHO called it 'Variant of Interest'

The WHO has defined Lambda as ' variant of interest', which is nothing more than the step that precedes that of the "worrying variants" such as the Alpha (English), Beta (South African), Gamma (Brazilian) and there Delta variant (Indiana).

Lambda' Covid-19 strain: WHO finds new 'variant of interest' in South America

The new Covid-19 variant, which was first detected in August last year, accounts for around 81% of the cases reported since April in Peru, according to WHO. Moreover, the Lambda Covid-19 variant is now prevalent in as many as 29 countries, most notably in South America.

By hindustantimes.com | Written by Joydeep Bose

PUBLISHED ON JUN 18, 2021 10:05 AM IST

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced earlier this week that 'Lambda', a new variant of interest of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), has been found in Peru. The new Covid-19 variant, which was first detected in August last year, accounts for around 81% of the cases reported since April in the country, according to WHO. Moreover, the Lambda Covid-19 variant is now prevalent in as many as 29 countries, most notably in South America where it is believed to have originated.

According to a report by Xinhua news agency citing World Health Organization officials, the Lambda Covid-19 variant has been dubbed a global 'variant of interest' due to its elevated presence in South America.

The variant was also reported in countries like Chile, where it accounts for 32% of all submitted sequences in the preceding 60 days. The Lambda variant was also reported in neighbouring countries in South America, such as Argentina and Ecuador. WHO suspects mutations present in the Lambda Covid-19 variant might show increased transmission and resistance to antibodies.

Meanwhile, the Delta Covid-19 variant, first identified in India, was classified as a "variant of concern" by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this week. Previously, the Delhi Covid-19 strain was only considered a "variant of interest" by the US CDC, but its status was changed to a "variant of concern" after assessing the Delta variant's high transmissibility, among other factors. Along with the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of Covid-19, a few other variants circulating in the United States have also been classified as 'variants of concern', a CDC statement published on Tuesday read. These include the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.427 (Epsilon), and B.1.429 (Epsilon) Covid-19 variants.

The Delta variant, which was dubbed a 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 10, accounts for around 9.9% of all Covid-19 cases in the United States, the CDC estimates. However, to date, no variants of high consequence have been identified in the country, the public health body explained in its statement.