Delta and Lambda Variants from Peru Also Showing Serious Spread

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Following the Delta variant, the spread of the Peru-originated Lambda variant is also showing alarming signs. It is rapidly spreading mainly in South America and has been confirmed in the United States and Europe as well.

According to foreign media on the 10th (local time), the UK Department of Health recently reported that "the Lambda variant has been detected in about 30 countries over the past four weeks." In Peru, the origin country, it already accounts for 82% of new infections as the dominant strain.

The problem is that it has been confirmed not only in countries neighboring Peru but also in major vaccine-leading countries and Europe. However, it has not yet been detected in Asia.

According to the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), the Lambda variant has been confirmed in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Bolivia, Uruguay, Turkey, Australia, Denmark, Czech Republic, and others.

First discovered in Peru in December last year, the Lambda variant is not classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), unlike the UK-origin Alpha variant, South Africa-origin Beta variant, Brazil-origin Gamma variant, and India-origin Delta variant. It is categorized as a variant of interest along with the Eta and Kappa variants.

However, there are concerns that it may become more dangerous than the Delta variant in the future. Foreign media reported that the UK Department of Health recently analyzed the widespread detection of the Lambda variant worldwide, stating, "It seems to have increased transmissibility and antibody evasion capabilities."

Recently, a research paper was published showing that the Lambda variant reduces the neutralizing response of vaccines by 3.05 times, thereby decreasing preventive effectiveness.

However, foreign media point out that this study was conducted in Chile, where the Sinovac vaccine was predominantly administered, so the results are limited to Chinese-made vaccines. CNBC stated, "The Lambda variant appears to be preventable with Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, but seems ineffective against Chinese-made vaccines widely used in South America, such as Sinopharm and Sinovac."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.