New Covid-19 Variant 'Lambda' Identified, Know About Its Origin And Threat

Countries such as Peru, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador have witnessed significant presence of Lambda variant

Geneva: After the delta Covid variant initially detected in India raised alarm, the World Health Organization (WHO) officials on Wednesday informed about a new variant named Lambda, which has been identified in 29 countries and believed to have originated in South America.

What’s the origin of the Lambda variant?

The WHO has identified the Lambda lineage and classified it as a global variant of Interest on Monday due to an "elevated prevalence" in South America. The variant has been dominant in Peru where 81 per cent of Covid-19 cases in April were found to be linked to Lambda variant, as per Xinhua news agency.

While in Chile, the variant has been found in 32 percent of all submitted sequences in the last 60 days, and only outclassed by the Gamma variant which was initially detected in Brazil. Even countries such as Argentina and Ecuador also witnessed the presence of new variants.

How harmful is this variant?

As per the WHO, this lineage carries mutations that might increase transmissibility or strengthen the virus's resistance to antibodies. However, at present there is too little evidence to support, the Geneva-based organization said, and more studies are required to understand better the Lambda variant.

Unlike variants of concern, variants of interest are closely watched by health organizations but are not proved yet to be significant threats to public health.

Also, the Delta variant also labelled as a Variant of Interest until May 11, post which the spike in cases around the world pushed it to the category of the Variant of Concern.