BEWARE THE LAMBDA VARIANT!

A COVID-19 variant that is possibly resistant to vaccines could be heading to Trinidad and Tobago. 

The Lambda variant has been identified in the South American countries of Peru and Chile but is also in neighbouring places, such as Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador. 

The deadly variant has been spotted in Texas and South Carolina and has been treated at Houston Methodist Hospital, all in the United States. 

A total of 30 countries have seen cases of Lambda. 

Just as with the lethal Delta and Gamma variants, Lambda is a potential killer. 

In fact, the World Health Organisation has said that Lambda is “not only more infectious than the standard” Covid-19 virus, “but could also shrug off vaccines.” 

The disease’s mutation has been baffling international medical experts. 

Scientists say Lambda has a “spike protein” and could prove to have an “immune escape from neutralising antibodies elicited from CoronaVac.” 

CoronaVac is a vaccine manufactured by a Chinese company and used in Peru. 

Peru has the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the world, with 600 of every 100,000 people having the disease. 

The Lambda variant is the carrier in 81 per cent of the infections, according to the WHO. 

A scientific expert said the discovery of the Lambda variant “underscores the need to consider vaccines just one layer of protection against Covid-19…” 

Newsweek magazine reported that Lambda has “torn through Peru and shows signs of having unusual success in infecting fully vaccinated people, according to one early study.” 

There are fears that the Lambda and other variants could expand their attack from the lungs to the brain and other organs.
Health experts in the United States have recommended that all travellers from countries with Lambda cases be quarantined upon arrival in that country.  

The local authorities have not addressed the possible Lambda threat.