WHO representative: Lambda variant still classified as variant of interest

World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe on Tuesday said the Lambda strain of coronavirus is still considered a “variant of interest” while more studies are being conducted on the new mutation.

“The Lambda variant right now is still classified as a variant of interest. When WHO is informed of a particularly new mutation, we look at it and if there is evidence…it’s initially classified as a variant of interest,” Abeyasinghe said in an ANC interview.

He further explained that multiple experts, both in WHO and other medical organizations, are studying the virus to “better understand” if it is more transmissible, causes severe infections, is risk-resistant, and resilient to the available vaccines before they can tag it as a “variant of concern.”

“At this point in time [it] 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,” he clarified.

So far, Abeyasinghe said the information they have is that the Lambda variant emerged in June 2021 in Brazil. 

“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,” he said.

He added that there is no sufficient evidence yet that can claim that the Lambda variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant, a coronavirus mutation that was first detected in India.

On Tuesday morning, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines has not yet detected the Lambda strain of coronavirus.

Vergeire said strict border control is needed to avoid the Lambda variant from entering the country.

So far, the Philippines has detected Alpha, Beta and Delta variants in the country.

Of the three variants, only Alpha and Beta variants have local transmissions in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the DOH said there are no local transmissions of the Delta variant yet.

The Philippines has so far recorded 19 cases of Delta variants after the DOH, on Monday night, said two more cases of the Delta variant were detected in the country, both from returning overseas Filipinos from Saudi Arabia. —KG, GMA News