New Variant of Covid-19 Emerges in the US, Causing a Rise in Hospitalizations
A new variant of Covid-19, known as EG5, is rapidly spreading in the United States and is contributing to a small increase in hospitalizations, according to health officials. As of August 5th, EG5 accounted for nearly one-fifth of all Covid-19 cases in the country, up from 7.5% in early July. This exceeds the prevalence of other variants like XBB.1.16, XBB.2.23, and XBB.1.5.
The emergence of the EG5 variant coincides with a recent uptick in hospital admissions for Covid-19 in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 12.5% rise in cases for the week ending July 29th, with 9,056 more people falling ill nationwide. Experts attribute this increase to factors such as increased socializing during the summer, waning immunity, and relaxed precautions.
Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, reassured the public that while the EG5 variant is concerning, it does not warrant alarm. He stated, “It is ticking up a little bit, but it’s not something that we need to raise any alarm bells over.”
The CDC is set to release new data in the coming days, which will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the spread of the EG5 variant. However, data collection has been limited as many states stopped reporting positive case rates after the Biden administration ended the Covid public health emergency in May.
Since June, approximately 500 to 600 people in the US have died from Covid-19 each week, according to the CDC.
A social media thread by Professor T Ryan Gregory of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, highlighted the threat posed by a subvariant of the EG5 lineage called EG5.1, also known as “Eris.” Although EG5.1 is not expected to cause a large surge in infections, it is increasing rapidly in frequency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) added the EG5 lineage to its “variants under monitoring” list on July 19th, recognizing its emergence as a significant development. Experts believe that EG5 may have a slight advantage over other variants due to a beneficial mutation, allowing it to spread more efficiently.
In the UK, where EG5 has also been detected, the symptoms associated with the variant are similar to those of the Omicron variant.
The CDC advises individuals who test positive on a lateral flow test to stay at home, isolate from others in a well-ventilated space, wear masks when encountering others, practice good hygiene, get plenty of rest, and use over-the-counter treatments to manage symptoms.
It is crucial to stay updated on vaccine and booster shots, as they are being modified to address the latest variants in preparation for the upcoming flu season.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for the virus, emphasized the importance of surveillance and sequencing, stating, “While the emergency of Covid has been lifted, the threat of Covid is not gone.” This serves as a reminder that despite the desire to move past the pandemic, it still poses a significant danger.
As the EG5 variant continues to spread, it is essential for individuals to remain vigilant and follow public health guidelines to mitigate the impact of the virus.