SARS-CoV-2 Theta variant
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The Theta variant (P.3) was a SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest. It was first identified in the Philippines on February 18, 2021, and shortly thereafter detected in Japan on March 12, 2021.
The variant is distinct from those first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil, and is thought to pose a similar threat. It is more resistant to neutralizing antibodies, including those gained through vaccination, like how the South African and Brazilian variants appear to be.
Under the standardized nomenclature system established by the World Health Organization (WHO), lineage P.3 has been labeled Theta and was classified as a variant of interest rather than a variant of concern. As of July 2021, Theta is no longer considered a variant of interest by the WHO.