WHO experts report a new, not fully understood COVID-19 mutation called Lambda also known by the name C.37 or “Andean variant”, which is actively spreading around the world.

It is reported that scientists have not yet fully studied the new strain that originated in South America, but are inclined to believe that it is more dangerous than others. 

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It is known that Lambda has already attacked 29 countries and spreads very quickly: more than 80% of infected Peruvians were infected with this particular variant.

This Tuesday, the WHO announced that this new version of the virus should be considered “variant of interest” (VOI), a category in which six other Sars-CoV-2 mutations are found and that, when confirming its community transmission, it must be duly investigated by scientists to measure its impact in the countries where it occurs, particularly in South America.

WHO experts believe that Lambda contains mutations that can increase the infectiousness of the virus or increase its resistance to antibodies.

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“Most likely it is more transmissible because it is the only way to explain its rapid growth. In Chile and Peru it has continued to advance strongly, while in the province of Buenos Aires it already represents more than 40% of cases,” says Dr. Pablo Tsukayama from the Microbial Genomics Laboratory of Peru.

“And the mere fact that they are more transmissible translates into more hospitalizations and deaths,” he adds.

Esta semana reportamos la identificación de un nuevo linaje (variante) de SARS-CoV-2 que parece expandirse rápidamente en Perú y Chile. Le llamamos C.37. Les cuento lo que sabemos y no sabemos al respecto. ????
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— Pablo Tsukayama (@pablotsukayama) April 24, 2021

Image Credit: iStock