Eris or EG: 5, a new COVID sub-variant, has become a matter of concern in the UK, the USA and India as per the latest report.
What Who Says
The World Health Organization has declared EG.5 as a variant of interest. The cases of Eris have been on a continuous rise in the US. In the last two weeks, this sub-variant has accounted for 17.3% of newly diagnosed COVID cases in the US, a quick rise from about 12%.
The first case of Eris in India was found in May and since then, the number of COVID-affected people has been on the rise though not at an alarming rate.
EG.5 or Eris is a descendant of omicron XBB sub lineage of COVID-19 virus. There are no reports suggesting that Eris causes acute illness. However, the virus is capable of spreading fast and has reportedly affected people in different other countries.
Symptoms of Eris are not different from previous COVID strains, particularly the Omicron variant. The most tell-tale symptoms of Eris include:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Changes in sense of smell
The latest COVID variant has reportedly been found in India. The country battled the worst variant Delta a couple of years ago and now it is to be seen how India deals with the new variant.
Considering the continuously worsening situation, WHO has formed a team to watch the behaviour of Eris. However, the global health body has stated that even though the new variant has been a matter of concern in some countries, it is most unlikely to pose a threat to public health like previous strains.
Eris variant of COVID-19 reportedly invaded India in May 2023. Taking cognizance of the sudden rise in Eris cases, WHO has decided to keep an eye on it.