Also known as C.37, the Lambda variant was first detected in Peru and accounts for more than 80 percent of new cases seen there since April. It has spread throughout South America and has been detected in about 30 nations, mostly in South and Central America, notable Argentina, Chile and Ecuador. It has also been found in the U.K.
Dr. Peter Hotez. dean of the School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston says it looks like the vaccines seem to work pretty well on Lambda. "It's just something that we will have to watch as far as the level of transmissibility. Right now the overwhelming concern is the Delta variant, not because the vaccines won't work, but because people are not getting vaccinated and the Delta variant is the most transmissible one we've seen so far." The Delta variant originated in India.
He stresses the importance of getting vaccinated. "Anyone who has not been vaccinated or previously infected and recovered, there's a high chance their luck is about to run out. They're about to get Delta."
He says the vaccines available in the US should work well against Delta and Lambda. And Hotez notes "whether or not Lambda get a foothold in the US is unclear. For instance, we had the P1 variant that originated in Brazil and it has not really taken off relative to Delta."
He says there is going to be a lot of variants coming along, and that's why we need to vaccinate the planet and not just the US.
He says COVID-19 infection rates are on the rise in Missouri, Arkansas and in East Texas around Tyler.
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