Possibility of Lambda Variant of Coronavirus Entering Iran Cannot Be Ruled Out

The lambda variant is more prevalent in South America, but cases of it have been observed in Turkey, India, and Qatar as well. Virologists say this strain of coronavirus has strong transmission capacity and high immune evasion.

Iran is said to be at the peak of the fifth wave of coronavirus outbreak. Based on statistics released by Iran’s Ministry of Health, over 30,000 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the 24-hour period ending on Ordibehesht 11.

It is reported that more than 4,500 of these individuals were hospitalized due to the severity of COVID-19. Iran’s Ministry of Health also announced approximately 600 deaths from this disease in the past 24 hours. Accordingly, the number of coronavirus victims in Iran reached approximately 109,000 people.

Peak of the Fifth Wave

The deputy director of treatment at the coronavirus headquarters in Tehran announced Iran’s entry into the peak of the fifth wave of coronavirus and spoke of the requirement to use two masks simultaneously.

Nader Tokoli, while referring to the insufficiency of Iranian-made coronavirus vaccines, emphasized the necessity of importing more foreign-made vaccines.

He emphasized: “The domestic production basket currently does not meet public demand, and approved foreign brands are being imported.”

According to Tokoli’s prediction, at the peak of the fifth wave, following an increase in the number of outpatient cases, the death rate slope will accelerate. Tokoli made these statements in circumstances where another concern looms over the health of this country’s people: the possibility of a new strain of coronavirus entering.

Lambda Variant

Aliryza Naji, head of the virology research center at Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, spoke of observing cases of the lambda variant in countries neighboring Iran.

Naji said: “Cases of the lambda variant have been identified as a new sample of coronavirus in neighboring countries such as Turkey, India, and Qatar, and the possibility that this new type of virus enters the country is not at all unlikely.”

It should be noted that previously, reports were circulated about the registration of this strain of coronavirus in Gilan Province. Naji, referring to the prevalence of this strain in the mentioned countries, said: “Given the interactions Iran has with these countries, it would not be unusual for this variant to enter the country.”

What has caused concern among the public and health officials of the Islamic Republic is the transmission capacity and the ability of this strain of coronavirus against antibodies.

Naji also said: “Based on the genetic changes that have occurred, the virus transmission is very severe and its immune evasion is severe, for which reason much information must be obtained in order to be able to confront it.”

The head of Baqiyatallah University’s virology center further pointed out that in Iran, genetic monitoring of the coronavirus is neglected, and this very issue makes it difficult to predict coronavirus epidemiology in this country.

He also emphasized, while stressing full compliance with health protocols, the need to accelerate vaccination in Iran. It is said that symptoms of infection with the lambda variant of coronavirus are similar to symptoms of previous variants.

Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, on Thursday, Shahrivar 11 (September 2), citing specialists, announced the main symptoms of lambda variant infection as “fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of smell and taste sensation, skin rashes, or color change of fingers and toes.”

Source: DW