We already knew about the Alpha (British), Beta (South African), Gamma (Brazilian) and Delta (Indian) variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus: now new threats are appearing since concerns are now crystallizing around the Epsilon and Lambda…
Variant Epsilon: what exactly are we talking about? The Epsilon variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is not new: formerly called “California variant”, it was first spotted in the United States in March 2020.
The Epsilon variant (or CAL.20C variant (B.1.427/B.1.429), that is its scientific name) has been classified in the category of “variants of interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO): in short, if it is not considered an immediate danger (mainly because it is not very widespread), it remains carefully watched. In France, the Epsilon variant is part of the list of coronavirus mutations to watch…
Epsilon variant not more contagious but may be resistant to vaccines
Variant Epsilon: is it more dangerous for health? Several studies have looked closely at the Epsilon variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. First, according to an American study published in the specialized journal Science this July 1, 2021, the Epsilon variant would not necessarily be more contagious than the “basic” coronavirus.
On the other hand, according to this study, this variant would have the ability to reduce the effectiveness of messenger RNA vaccines (such as the Pfizer/BioNtech or Moderna vaccines) by 2 to 3.5 after two injections, by reducing the effectiveness of certain antibodies against the virus.
Variant Epsilon: where is it? At present, the Epsilon variant remains quite rare : it is observed more in the United States, in Mexico and (to a lesser extent) in Denmark. In France, less than a dozen cases have been listed.
Read also :
- Covid vaccine: everyone over 18 can make an appointment for a vaccination from May 31
- Covid-19: what exactly is pandemic fatigue?
- Variant Delta (Indian): symptoms, vaccination, progression in France
