No threat of Lambda variant in India yet, govt monitoring situation: Dr VK Paul

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jul 10, 2021: Covid Task Force chief Dr VK Paul said that there is no threat of Lambda variant of Covid-19 in India, adding it hasn’t entered the country yet.

 

During the press briefing of the health ministry, Dr VK Paul called Lambda variant a ‘variant of interest’ that has spread in Peru, but stated that the variant has not been detected in India yet.

However, NITI Aayog’s VK Paul pointed out that INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium of Genomics) is closely monitoring the situation.

WHAT IS LAMBDA VARIANT?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Lambda variant of SARS-CoV-2 was initially detected in Peru in August 2020 and has since been reported in several nations, including many Latin American countries like Argentina and Chile.

Lambda variant has been associated with "substantive rates of community transmission" in multiple countries, with rising prevalence over time concurrent with increased Covid-19 incidence, according to the WHO.WHO has designated the Lambda variant as a ’Variant of Interest’ (VOI). Variants of Interest are tracked by health organizations and have yet to be proven to pose a serious hazard to public health.

LAMBDA CARRIES MANY MUTATIONS

According to WHO, the Lambda variant "carries several mutations with suspected phenotypic implications, such as a potential increased transmissibility or possible increased resistance to neutralizing antibodies."

The Lambda variant has at least seven significant mutations in the spike protein, which could increase transmissibility or enhanced resistance to antibodies.

The WHO, however, also added that there is currently "limited evidence" on the full extent of the impact associated with these genomic changes, noting that further "robust studies into the phenotypic impacts are needed to understand the impact on countermeasures better and to control the spread".

Courtesy:India Today