New Delta variant sub lineage found by SJU, but no cause for concern

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The sub lineage of the delta variant recently detected by the Sri Jayewardenepura University would not have an impact on the vaccine efficacy, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara of the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, Department of Immunology Molecular and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura said on Friday.

Dr. Jeewandara said so after revealing that Sri Lanka now had another delta sub lineage (B.1.617.2.104.) Earlier Jayewardenepura researchers had detected a sub lineage called B.1.617.2.28.

“The B.1.617.2.28 sub lineage was found in the Western Province mainly. However the new sub lineage was seen mainly in the Northern and North Central provinces and Hambantota District. So far we have found 288 people with the new sub lineage. You must remember that we only get a limited number of samples to the lab,” he said.

The behaviour of the new sub lineage was not very different from the Delta variant, so there was no reason to worry too much about the newest detection, Dr. Jeewandara said.

“If won’t affect the effectiveness of the vaccines,” he said.