Delta variant may affect recovered patients 0:32
(CNN Spanish) -
While the world authorities monitor with concern the advance of the delta variant of the coronavirus, now the lambda variant has been designated as an Investigational Variant (VUI) by the English health authority Public Health England due to the international expansion and several notable mutations.
The lambda variant was classified as a Variant of Interest by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 14.
It was first identified in August 2020, and its origin is believed to be in Peru.
Lambda has been detected in 29 countries, and many of them are mainly found in Latin America, according to the WHO.
Among the countries with the highest prevalence of the Lambda variant are Chile— "with 31% overall prevalence among the sequences since the first time it was detected in Peru— says the WHO. Peru (9%), Ecuador (8%) and Argentina (3%).
According to the WHO, "authorities in Peru reported that 81% of covid-19 cases sequenced since April 2021 were associated with Lambda."
READ: One by one, all the variants of the new coronavirus identified so far
advertising
There is currently no evidence that the Lambda variant causes more serious illness or makes current UK coronavirus vaccines less effective, PHE added.
To date, six cases of lambda have been identified across the UK, all related to overseas travel, PHE said.
With information from Eleanor Pickston and James Briggs of CNN in London
Editor's Note:
This note was originally published on June 28, 2021 and updated on August 4, 2021.
coronavirus variant
