Lambda COVID-19 variant was not yet a “variant of concern”, according to WHO.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said that the Lambda COVID-19 variant was not yet a “variant of concern”.
In an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel, WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that the Lambda variant, feared to be “more infectious” than the Delta variant, remained to be a “variant of interest”.
“Lambda at this point in time still remains a variant of interest. That does not mean that we are not following it, we are still studying it and it doesn’t warrant a classification as a variant of concern at this point in time. It is present in several countries I believe, 20 to 30 countries now, but so far, it has not demonstrated characteristics that will warrant its classification as a variant of concern,” Abeyasinghe said.
READ ALSO | Vergeire: Lambda COVID-19 Variant Not Yet Detected In Philippines
Earlier, the Health Ministry of Malaysia said that the Lambda COVID-19 variant was reported to have originated from Peru.
While the said variant was feared to be “more infectious” than the Delta variant, Abeyasinghe said that there’s still not enough information to say that it was “more transmissible.”
Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the said variant had not yet detected in the Philippines.
“Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa tayong nadi-detect na ganitong klase ng variant sa bansa. Ibig sabihin iba po ito dun sa mga variants of concern. Itong variant of interest na ito sabi nila may attributes din na katulad nung sa Delta variant,” Vergeire said.
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