Peru has a variant - the Lambda that is hell on wheels

Previously known as C.37, Lambda was first detected in Peru in December 2020.

Since then, it's spread to 29 countries, seven of which are in South America. 

In April and May this year, Lambda accounted for over 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Peru, with a high proportion of cases also in Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador.

They found  the Lambda variant has a mutation called L452Q, which is similar to the L452R mutation seen in the Delta and Epsilon variants.

As the L452R mutation is thought to make Delta and Epsilon more infectious and resilient against vaccination, the team concluded that Lambda's L452Q mutation might also help it spread far and wide. 

While it's possible that Lambda is indeed more infectious than other variants, it's too early to know for sure, said Kirsty Short, a virologist at the University of Queensland.

"It's very preliminary," said Dr Short, who was not involved in the study.

Are vaccines still effective against the Lambda variant?

The study also found signs that Lambda's unique spike mutations could help it slip past the body's immune response.

The results of the study suggested that the CoronaVac vaccine produces fewer neutralising antibodies — proteins that defend cells against infections — in response to the Lambda variant.

But according to Paul Griffin, who specialises in infectious diseases and vaccines at the University of Queensland, it's important to remember that these antibodies are just one aspect of immunity.

"We know that [neutralising antibodies] only tell a part of the story," said Dr Griffin, who was not involved in the study. 

"If that further immunity remains intact, then even with a reduction in neutralising antibodies, sometimes that protection can still be enough."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-07-06/what-we-know-about-the-lambda-variant/100267978

https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/

This version of the virus, otherwise known as the C.37 variant, made the WHO’s Variants of Interest (VOI) list on June 14, 2021, joining other variants like the Eta, Iota, and Kappa ones.  

A VOI is one step below a Variant of Concern (VOC). The Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Gamma variants have already made the VOC list. The Lambda variant doesn’t qualify as a VOC at this moment because studies have not yet confirmed that it is more transmissible, causes worse illness, or better able to get past the Covid-19 vaccines or treatments than other versions of the virus.

The key words here are “have not yet confirmed.” 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/07/10/lambda-variant-of-covid-19-coronavirus-is-spreading-what-you-need-to-know/?sh=61456a5b63f2

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Scientists are cautioning that the Lambda variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is one worth watching closely.

In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a “variant of interest,” meaning it could be more dangerous than the initial strain of the coronavirus. It initially was discovered in August 2020, in Peru, the WHO reported.

Experts say the variant should be eyed carefully due to its prevalence in several countries and its mutations.

Six cases of the variant recently were detected in the United Kingdom, Public Health England announced in late June. All of them linked to overseas travel.

Scientists so far have said the Lambda variant is not as bad as the Delta variant, which is already spreading across the United States.

Although there’s growing concern in the scientific community that the Lambda variant could be resistant to vaccines, according to a recent report.

Though some studies also found that the vaccines were still able to neutralize the virus.

https://www.silive.com/coronavirus/2021/07/lambda-covid-variant-where-is-it-spreading-are-vaccines-effective.html

Kilt5-When I look at [url]https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/[/url] or https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/ they report 680 cases sequenced in the US of the Lambda variant...26 of them in the past 4 weeks...Spain has 56 of wich 5 in the last 4 weeks, Italy 11-with 4 in the last 4 weeks. Switzerland 10/3, UK 7/1, Belgium 2/2, NL 2/1

Chile did so far detect 994 Lambda variant of wich 107 in the past 4 weeks.Ecuador 66/6, Mexico 117/25...

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant ; The SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant, also known as lineage C.37, is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.^[1] It was first detected in Peru in December 2020.^[1] On 14 June 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) named it Lambda variant^[1] and designated it as a variant of interest.^[2] It has spread to at least 30 countries^[3] around the world and may be more resistant to COVID-19 vaccines compared to other strains.^[4][5] It is also suggested that the Lambda variant is more infectious than the Alpha or Gamma variant.^[4]

Their statistics at [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant#Statistics[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant#Statistics (GISAID numbers per july 1-at that time 608 Lambda variants in the US, Spain 50...suggesting numbers may still be increasing..).

Another problem could be testing escape...tests most used not picking up the Lambda-variant. [url]https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/weekly-trends/#weekly_table[/url] or https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/weekly-trends/#weekly_table has the only region being South America with cases/deaths decreasing both (-12%/-14%...). 

The CDC does not (yet) include the Lambda variant in its numbers ? [url]https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions[/url] or https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions (latest numbers from june 19/20....?) NL following CDC [url]https://coronadashboard.government.nl/landelijk/varianten[/url] or https://coronadashboard.government.nl/landelijk/varianten Lambda not mentioned.

But they may be on the increase...maybe become an even bigger problem then the Delta-variant...

Thanks, Kilt, the Chinese Death Star is the gift that keeps on giving! 

As long as we have vaccine hold-outs, we will have hot-spots in the population generating new and aggressive mutations.   Humanity will have to deal with SARS-CoV2 for a long time I'm afraid.  

I'm sure we will have to have boosters in the not so distant future.  

KiwiMum wrote: I guess we've got to hope that the vaccine boosters can outpace the new variants. It does seem to be a game of catch up at them moment.

I also worry about that, KiwiMum.  RNA viruses like coronas can mutate quickly & easily, and as long as there are pockets that are not vaccinated (either holdouts or because of poverty etc.), this thing is likely to simmer for years. 

I'm keeping an eye on it and will post anything I see that is helpful, but for right now, the standard mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) seem to be doing a very good job!  I'm not convinced about the J&J vaccine, and the GBS complication is worrisome (although GBS is not an uncommon side-effect for many vaccines, for reasons not understood).  

The Chinese and Russian vaccines don't impress me one bit.  Also, I see that there is resistance to the Indian-made Astrazeneca vaccine: 

https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-lifestyle-health-travel-f678a53270470d9b35ce6259e48548bf

I would advise caution, particularly if you have pre-existing conditions that would cause a severe outcome if infected (I do).   My wife and I still wear masks in large public enclosed spaces (big-box stores), and I think caution should prevail.  We are all sick of the damn stuff, but that's pandemics for you.  

Be safe! 

The unusual Lambda variant is rapidly spreading in South America. Here’s what we know.

Its mutations help it dodge the immune system. Researchers are scrambling to figure out if it is more dangerous or transmissible than Delta.

A coronavirus variant known as Lambda, which has largely slid under the radar for the past nine months, is now causing almost all new infections in Peru. 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-unusual-lambda-variant-is-rapidly-spreading-in-south-america-heres-what-we-know

New Delhi: Kappa and Lambda have emerged as two new variants of concern along with Delta and Delta Plus.

On 9 July, the Uttar Pradesh government reported two cases of the Kappa variant of the virus in the state, while Lambda), first detected in Peru, is drawing attention from across the world.

https://www.odishabytes.com/what-are-kappa-lambda-variants-should-we-fear-them/