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As COVID-19 cases increase across the country in large part due to the highly transmissible and now dominant Delta variant (B.1.617.2), health experts continue to monitor potentially other variants closely. threatening. One strain of coronavirus to be aware of is the Lambda variant (C. 37), which was first detected in Peru in December 2020. So far, genomic sequencing has identified the strain born in South America as the cause. approximately 1,060 cases of COVID-19. in the United States, according to GISAID, an independent data sharing initiative. And while that number is arguably pale compared to the skyrocketing cases caused by the Delta strain (which currently accounts for over 80% of cases in the United States), Lambda has been classified as a “variant of interest.” “by the World Health Organization. . (FYI – this designation is slightly lower than the Delta’s “variant of concern” status.) What’s more, it’s also currently of particular concern in Texas, one of the biggest COVID-19 hotspots, according to data reported by The New York Times.
Ahead, everything you need to know about the Lambda variant, including how to compare it to the Delta variant (and whether it can cause groundbreaking COVID cases) and answers to questions like “This new strain of COVID is more deadly? (Read more: Why are the new COVID-19 strains spreading faster?)
What is the COVID-19 Lambda variant?
If you feel like a new variant of COVID-19 is making headlines every day, be aware that the emergence of new strains is not unique to this particular virus. In fact, each virus has the ability to change by mutation, and variants (essentially different versions) are “to be expected,” especially if a virus continues to spread in communities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while some strains will appear and then disappear, others may persist, as evidenced by the (ongoing) global spread of the Delta variant.
The Lambda variant now accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases in Peru where it originated, says Vivek Cherian, MD, an internal medicine physician affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System. It has since spread to other Latin American countries with the United States, he adds.
How is the Lambda variant different from the Delta variant?
Unlike a “variant of concern” such as Delta, Lambda is a “variant of interest” considered “a term used when health officials closely monitor a specific variant because mutations can potentially affect disease severity or the transmissibility of this particular strain, ”explains Dr. Cherian. “The Lambda variant is known to be more resistant to neutralizing antibodies compared to other strains, and there is evidence to suggest that it may be more infectious and resistant to vaccines.” So, while health experts are monitoring all known variants of the coronavirus very closely, there haven’t been enough cases caused by the Lambda variant to determine if the strain has the potential (read: a big enough threat ) to be a Delta- level “variant of concern”. (Related: Pfizer Is Working On A Third Dose Of The COVID-19 Vaccine That ‘Strongly’ Boosts Protection)
“Relatively speaking, we don’t know much about the Lambda variant at the moment,” he says. “It certainly appears to be more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus [aka the Alpha variant], but to what extent remains to be seen. This is especially true in the United States, where the prevalence of the strain is, in Dr. Cherian’s words, “tiny” compared to the dominant Delta variant.
“The data strongly suggests that the Delta variant has higher viral loads and is more contagious than the Lambda variant,” says Dr. Cherian. “[And] because the Delta variant is so contagious, the Lambda variant is unlikely to take over. “
How to protect yourself against the Lambda variant
While Dr Cherian notes that more research is needed to truly determine the transmissibility of the Lambda variant, one thing is clear: getting the vaccine is still the best way to protect yourself and others from the disease. (Yes, breakthrough infections are always possible, but vaccinated patients may have less severe symptoms or be completely asymptomatic, according to the CDC.)
And as the COVID-19 variants continue to circulate, there is a real threat that new variants will emerge that could escape vaccines altogether – a serious problem for everyone, according to Dr Cherian. “Not getting vaccinated is, of course, a very bad thing for unvaccinated people, but it could also be bad for vaccinated people because you let the virus continue to spread and mutate, and it can eventually become a strain that makes our current vaccines completely ineffective, “he warns.
Before you panic, just know that the same tools that health experts have always encouraged – wearing masks and getting vaccinated, in particular – are still effective and perhaps more important than ever in crushing the death once and for all. pandemic. “There is nothing you should do differently when it comes to protecting against the Lambda variant,” says Dr. Cherian. “So far, the greatest weapons in our arsenal for winning the war against this pandemic are to get fully vaccinated and continue to wear masks. Conclusion: Get vaccinated.”
The information in this story is accurate at the time of posting. As updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus continue to evolve, it is possible that some information and recommendations in this story have changed since the initial publication. We encourage you to regularly check resources such as the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department for the most recent data and recommendations.
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