Covid: Experts, lambda variant spreading to US – North America
(ANSA) – ROME, Aug 08 – The novel coronavirus epidemic in the United States is not stopping, as infections caused by a lambda variant discovered in Peru are spreading, as experts recall how transmission of the virus between unvaccinated people favors the virus’ mutation in increasingly contagious forms. . CNN reported this, citing several scientists.
The first case of the Lambda variant was discovered last month in Texas, at Houston Methodist Hospital and has since sequenced 1,060 infections attributable to it, according to the independent data-sharing initiative Gisaid. While that number is a far cry from that attributed to the delta variable, which accounts for about 83 percent of new cases in the United States, infectious disease experts said the lambda variable is one of the most closely monitored.
The Lambda variant was first identified in Peru in December. “It does have worrying mutations — notes Priti Malaney, MD, medical director in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor — but this variant is still very rare in the United States despite having been circulating for several months.”
“It’s hard to know for sure how transmissible Lambda is and how well vaccines protect. So far, Lambda appears to be more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2,” which is similar to the Delta virus and other variants, according to an expert with the Infectious Diseases Society American.
“Fortunately, studies show that currently available vaccines are still effective – Malani notes -. We have learned during the pandemic that things can change quickly, so controlling the spread of Covid-19 in general will help manage Lambda.” “As long as there is an uncontrolled spread of SARS-CoV-2, we will see more variants in the future. The only way out is widespread vaccination to control the spread and prevent further mutations. In fact – he concludes – there is a sort of competition between increased coverage of vaccination and the development of new variants that are less reactive to countermeasures.” (handle).
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