The Latin American strain COVID-19 lambda could already get to Russia, but we will find out about this not earlier than August.
No sooner had we come to our senses from the news that the first case of infection with a new strain of the delta plus coronavirus was recorded in Russia, so now we are frightened by the fact that a new type of strain has appeared – Latin American lambda.
The lambda strain is not particularly new. It formed even earlier than delta plus. So far, nothing is known about him, because our colleagues from Latin America, if they write anything about him, are in Spanish or Portuguese. And in order for them to be published in English-language sources, it will take six months, ”he said. in conversation with allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok.
But the vice-president of the Academy of Sciences Vladimir Chekhonin noted that the Russian Academy of Sciences has not yet observed the spread of the new strain in Russia.
We have heard about this strain, we understand that it should be actively studied. We do not see its spread in Russia yet, “he said in an interview with the TV channel.».
Since June 1, WHO has changed its approach to the name strains of coronavirus. The British strain began to be called alpha, the South African strain was called beta, the Brazilian strain was called gamma, and the Indian strain was called delta.
The lambda strain of the coronavirus was first discovered in Brazil at the end of June 2020. The discovery was made during observations of the health of a patient with a disease who returned home after a trip from South America, where he visited Argentina. It is assumed that this version of the pathogen contains several mutations in the spike protein that affect the degree of infectivity. Experts clarify that the symptoms of the new strain are very similar to those already familiar: high fever, severe and rapid fatigue, as well as loss or change of smell and taste.