A new variant called Eris has emerged in the COVID scene, but experts believe it will not significantly impact health protocols at this time. Eris, which is a subvariant of Omicron, is currently responsible for over 17% of COVID cases in the United States, making it the most common variant in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Eris, officially known as EG.5, as a “variant of interest,” but has stated that it does not pose a greater threat than other variants. The WHO conducted a risk evaluation and concluded that available evidence does not suggest that EG.5 has additional public health risks compared to other circulating Omicron lineages.
As of August 8, Eris has been detected in more than 50 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. In response to this new variant, major vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax have developed updated versions of their vaccines aimed at combating a similar subvariant of Omicron called XBB.1.5, which is believed to be similar to Eris. These updated COVID vaccines are expected to be available in the United States by mid to late September, as stated by CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen in an interview with Andy Slavitt on the “In the Bubble” podcast.
Despite the emergence of Eris and the increase in COVID hospitalizations observed during the summer, COVID rates in the United States are still relatively low. The CDC has reported a 10% rise in hospitalizations, the sharpest increase since December 2022. However, early indicators of COVID-19 activity such as emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels preceded this rise in hospitalizations, according to CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley.
It is important to note that the currently available vaccines, medicines, and tests continue to be effective against the changing virus. COVID-19 tools are still effective in combating the virus, even with the presence of new variants like Eris. Despite the evolving nature of the virus, our defenses remain strong.
In conclusion, Eris is a subvariant of the Omicron variant that has attracted attention in the COVID scene. However, according to the WHO, it does not pose additional public health risks compared to other variants. Vaccine manufacturers are actively developing updated versions of their vaccines to address this new subvariant. COVID hospitalizations have seen a recent increase, but overall rates remain relatively low in the country. The ongoing tools and measures to combat COVID-19 continue to be effective as the virus evolves.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
