The "Lamda" alarm has sounded, and guarding the country is the number one priority!
■ Observer
Virus mutation is absolute, while unchanged is relative.
Recently, while the mutant strain of Delta is raging, another mutant strain of Lambda has also attracted attention.
Although the latter has not caused many infections at present, it has a tendency to spread globally.
Data show that the lambda strain has appeared in about 30 countries and regions.
There is no lambda virus infection in our country, but the possibility of lambda virus infection in the future cannot be ruled out.
What needs to be clear is that as the epidemic changes, more variants of the new coronavirus will appear.
Virus mutation is a normal state, mutation is absolute, and change is relative.
Therefore, in the future, mankind must be prepared for a long-term fight against the epidemic.
How infectious and toxic is lambda?
Existing data show that its toxicity is not very strong, and the WHO just listed it as one of the mutant viruses that “need attention”.
Of course, if the subsequent toxicity becomes stronger, it needs to be upgraded to a mutant virus that “needs attention”.
The current Lambda has not yet been upgraded, which means that it is not at the same level as the mutant strains such as Delta. Although it is a mutant strain, it is lightweight.
It is worth noting that although the toxicity caused by lambda cannot be compared with the toxicity caused by delta, it may be more infectious.
The WHO report shows that the spike protein of the lambda strain has a variety of genetic mutations, which are potentially more infectious and have a stronger ability to resist neutralizing antibodies.
However, the currently available evidence is insufficient to confirm the full impact of these mutations, and more studies are needed to reveal the possible impact of this variant on the epidemic.
In addition, a study published by researchers from the University of Tokyo on July 28 pointed out that the spike protein of the lambda variant strain may evade neutralizing antibodies and reduce the protection of the vaccine.
Therefore, Lambda may be the same as Delta, spread faster, and may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines and drugs.
Of course, there is no need to panic.
In the face of mutated virus strains such as Lambda and Delta, humans certainly have ways to contain them and minimize their consequences.
First of all, the existing vaccines are basically effective despite their reduced effects on mutant strains.
Secondly, many countries have initiated the development of second-generation vaccines against mutant virus strains.
Many pharmaceutical companies that produce new coronavirus vaccines in China are also conducting vaccine research and development for mutant virus strains, and some companies have made important progress in research and development projects for new coronavirus mutant strains.
On the other hand, whether it is for the new crown pneumonia, influenza, or prevention of other diseases, a universal vaccine (universal vaccine) can be developed. This may be a once-and-for-all approach to the ever-changing new crown virus in the future.
Of course, this process may be more difficult, but there have been successful cases in today's practice-it has been reflected in the development of vaccines to prevent cervical cancer.
In addition to vaccines, humans can also use social methods to deal with the spread of the virus, such as cutting off the source of infection and quarantining.
Although the Delta mutant strain had raged in Nanjing this time, it was basically controlled within a certain range under strict prevention and control measures.
I believe that as long as we are fully prepared, in the near future, we can further fill in the corners of epidemic prevention, keep Lambda out of the country, and prevent it from wreaking havoc in the country.
□ Zhang Tiankan (Columnist)