We Worried About the Delta COVID Variant — Should We Be Concerned About Lambda?

Viruses evolve. It’s a fundamental concept even taught in high school biology, yet many people struggle to accept these scientific truths. As COVID-19 continues to spread, mutations are a natural part of its lifecycle. Right now, the Delta variant, initially discovered in India and referred to as B.1.617.2, is causing significant alarm due to its heightened transmissibility and potential vaccine resistance, prompting the CDC to classify it as a “variant of concern.”

Now, there’s another variant emerging: Lambda. First identified in Peru in August 2020, Lambda was categorized as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 14. It has become predominant in Peru, accounting for 81% of cases, and makes up 31% of cases in Chile. With its presence in 29 countries, many Americans are questioning if they should panic about Lambda, similar to their reactions to Delta.

Delta vs. Lambda

In late May, Delta accounted for just 3% of COVID cases in the U.S., but that number has surged to around 58% now. This rapid spread is alarming enough to warrant attention from health officials. For instance, a wedding in Texas highlighted this risk when, despite vaccination proof being required, Delta still infected six attendees — including two who had received the Pfizer vaccine, two who had Moderna, and another who had Covaxin, one of whom sadly died.

While Dr. Anthony Fauci maintains that CDC masking guidelines haven’t changed due to Delta, the WHO warns that “vaccines alone will not stop community spread,” emphasizing the need for continued caution.

Lambda is currently responsible for only about 1% of U.S. cases. Although it has shown high transmission rates in South America, there’s no immediate reason for alarm. The WHO designates it a “variant of interest,” which indicates potential concern but not a definitive threat. Lambda has mutations that may make it more transmissible and possibly more resistant to vaccines, but it’s essential to keep things in perspective.

Understanding Spike Proteins

Take a moment to breathe (yes, while wearing your mask). Viruses mutate continually, but we become concerned when these changes occur in critical areas, such as the spike protein. This protein is crucial because it’s the target for the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. These vaccines teach our immune systems to recognize and fight the spike protein. If the spike protein mutates significantly, our immune systems may struggle to recognize it.

Delta is deemed a “variant of concern” due to its altered spike proteins that result in increased transmissibility and reduced vaccine efficacy. Lambda has seven mutations in its spike protein, some of which are also seen in other variants. This raises eyebrows, especially since Lambda’s mutations are categorized as “unusual.”

Should We Be Alarmed?

Not necessarily. Expert opinions suggest that the excitement over Lambda stems from its novelty rather than concrete evidence of increased risk. Dr. Sarah Thompson, a microbiologist at the University of California, stated, “While it’s important to monitor new variants, there’s no strong indication that Lambda will outpace Delta in the U.S.” The uncertainty surrounding Lambda is partly due to less robust viral surveillance in South America, leading to speculation rather than informed conclusions.

Current evidence indicates that vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna still provide some level of protection against Lambda, although they may generate fewer antibodies. However, preliminary data suggests that vaccines such as Sinovac or Sinopharm may not be as effective against Lambda or Delta.

So, should Americans be worried about Lambda? The short answer is no — at least not yet. Delta remains the primary variant of concern for now.

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