According to the Centre for Disease Control, COVID-19 variant EG.5 also known as Eris continues to cause infections in the United States, accounting for almost 30 percent of all cases of Covid.
Although the Centre’s Data Tracker estimates that COVID-19-related hospital admissions decreased about 3 percent percent nationally compared with the week before September 23, 2023 – where deaths related to COVID-19 increased slightly.
What is the Eris Variant?
The Eris which is a subvariant and medically known as EG.5, is an extension of omicron coronavirus and has been dominant for weeks in the United States of America. So far, EG.5 isn’t setting off any alarms as far as disease severity, although early reports show it may be more transmissible—it has surpassed XBB.1.1; another highly contagious omicron subvariant.
Also EG.5 is different from other variants by possessing a new mutation in its spike protein which potentially assists it to evade some of the immunity acquired after an infection or vaccination.
What Are the Symptoms of EG.5?
Eris infect the upper respiratory tract, and hence more likely to lead to symptoms like;
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Coughing with or without phlegm
- Headache
- Body aches and pains
- An altered sense of smell
Do the updated (2023-2024 formula) COVID vaccines protect against Eris?
The CDC says the updated vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax are not an exact match for Eris but could possibly work against circulating variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus—many of which are descendants or related to the XBB strain; just like Eris.
Public health authorities advise those at increased risk like adults ages 50 and older and individuals who are immunocompromised, to talk with a healthcare provider about taking extra precautions, such as wearing a mask, when hospital admission levels in their communities are high.