New COVID-19 Variant Eris Dominating Infections in the U.S.
There’s a new COVID-19 variant making waves in the United States, and its name is EG.5 or “Eris.” First identified in China in February and detected in the U.S. in April, Eris now accounts for over 17% of COVID-19 cases nationwide, making it the most prevalent variant in the country.
According to experts, Eris, a subvariant within the Omicron family of coronaviruses, shares similarities with the XBB variant that was dominant months earlier. However, symptoms from Eris are expected to be similar to those experienced with other COVID-19 variants, as there haven’t been any significant changes or indications that Eris is more dangerous or causes new symptoms.
Dr. David Alain Wohl, an infectious diseases professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, stated, “We don’t see anything that indicates that the virus is evolving to be more dangerous.” Dr. Jessica Justman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University School of Public Health, echoed this sentiment, saying there is no reason to believe Eris will be more virulent or cause more severe symptoms, hospitalizations, or deaths than previous variants.
The World Health Organization has classified Eris as a “variant of interest,” but it does not pose any more of a public health threat than other variants. While Eris doesn’t appear to be more dangerous, experts caution that it isn’t weaker either. If symptoms from Eris seem less severe than previous COVID-19 illnesses, it could be due to individuals’ built-up resilience and immunity.
Regarding contagiousness, there is currently no evidence indicating that Eris spreads more easily. Treatments and vaccines are expected to continue to be effective against this variant, according to a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recent increase in cases may be attributed to the usual slight rise in COVID-19 cases during the summer months.
It’s important to note that the true prevalence of Eris may be underestimated due to the reliance on at-home test kits, which may not provide as reliable data as hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Therefore, it may take some time to obtain a complete picture of Eris’ prevalence.
As for protection against Eris, the current bivalent vaccine still offers some defense due to the overlap between Omicron subvariants. However, a new vaccine that will be available in the fall is specifically designed to combat XBB, which is one subvariant removed from Eris. Experts emphasize that vaccines and boosters remain crucial defenses against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Looking ahead, experts predict a surge in infections during the late fall and winter, similar to previous COVID seasons. The rapid mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus suggests that new variants will likely continue to emerge in the future. Being prepared and adaptable is key to effectively combatting these future variants.
“It’s going to be really hard to completely keep up with every single dominant variant that’s circulating on the planet, but XBB will be a step closer to getting us a kind of protection against what’s circulating, at least right now,” says Dr. Wohl.
In conclusion, while Eris has become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the U.S., there is currently no evidence suggesting it to be more dangerous or causing new symptoms. Vaccines and boosters still provide protection, and experts encourage vigilance and adaptability in the face of future variants.