New COVID-19 Variant, EG.5, Causes Surge in Cases Across New York
A new strain of COVID-19, known as EG.5, is causing a significant increase in cases across New York state, leading to concerns as summer comes to an end and schools prepare to reopen. Health experts are now investigating the characteristics and impact of this variant.
“It is important to remember that viruses mutate. That’s what they do,” said Stephen Thomas, director of the Institute for Global Health at SUNY Upstate Medical University. EG.5 has quickly become the dominant variant in the country, responsible for over 20% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States by the end of the third week of August, according to estimates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“This new variant, EG.5, is highly transmissible and is currently spreading across Central and upstate New York. It’s also the predominant variant around the country right now,” added Thomas.
Yale Medicine has identified a significant mutation in the spike protein of the EG.5 variant, which potentially allows it to evade some immunity provided by previous COVID-19 infection or vaccination. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” urging countries to monitor it closely due to mutations that may increase its transmission or severity.
The impact of the EG.5 variant on patients’ health is still uncertain. Thomas stated, “We really do not have a definitive answer to that right now.” However, there has been a noticeable increase in hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in New York. According to the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization summary, there has been an increase of 282 COVID-related hospitalizations from the beginning of August to August 18.
Despite the challenges posed by EG.5, there is hope on the horizon. A new vaccine targeting this variant is expected to be available by the end of September. “The new vaccine suggested by the CDC, which will be available sometime at the end of September, will be pretty close, or the closest vaccine possible, to what’s currently circulating,” stated Richard Ellison, a professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.
As health experts continue to investigate EG.5 and the implications it may have for public health, it is crucial for individuals to practice effective preventive measures such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and getting vaccinated to mitigate the spread of this new variant and protect themselves and their communities.