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Published Monday, July 5, 2021 8:18PM EDT
Last Updated Monday, July 5, 2021 8:18PM EDT
Solarina Ho
TORONTO -- A recently designated COVID-19 variant of interest by the World Health Organization is coming under scrutiny as more cases are being detected in multiple countries, and amid concerns that it carries mutations that could potentially make it more resistant to neutralizing antibodies.
The newly labelled Lambda variant, or C.37, was first detected as early as last August 2020 in Peru and was being monitored as an alert for some time prior to its new designation. As of mid-June, the variant had been detected in 29 countries or territories with a particularly high prevalence in South America.
...The WHO said there was currently limited evidence on what the impact of these mutations will mean and that further studies were necessary to better understand how to contain the spread and how the vaccines will hold up against the variant.
WHO virologist Jairo Mendez-Rico told Germany’s Deutsche Welle there were no indications thus far the lambda variant is more dangerous or leads to higher mortality.
Last Updated Monday, July 5, 2021 8:18PM EDT
Solarina Ho
TORONTO -- A recently designated COVID-19 variant of interest by the World Health Organization is coming under scrutiny as more cases are being detected in multiple countries, and amid concerns that it carries mutations that could potentially make it more resistant to neutralizing antibodies.
The newly labelled Lambda variant, or C.37, was first detected as early as last August 2020 in Peru and was being monitored as an alert for some time prior to its new designation. As of mid-June, the variant had been detected in 29 countries or territories with a particularly high prevalence in South America.
...The WHO said there was currently limited evidence on what the impact of these mutations will mean and that further studies were necessary to better understand how to contain the spread and how the vaccines will hold up against the variant.
WHO virologist Jairo Mendez-Rico told Germany’s Deutsche Welle there were no indications thus far the lambda variant is more dangerous or leads to higher mortality.
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