2023-11-06 01:22:24
World Health Organization Upgrades Eris as a Variant of Interest
EG.5 Mutation Raises Concerns About Vaccine Effectiveness
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the new mutation of the coronavirus, EG.5, known as “Eris,” has been upgraded to a “virus variant of interest.” This means that Eris is now one of three variants that are under increased observation by the WHO. The other two variants are XBB.1.5, which is widespread in Europe and the American continent, and XBB.1.16, which is particularly common in Asia.
How Dangerous is Eris aka EG.5?
The WHO corona expert, Maria Van Kerkhove, explained that there have been no observed cases of more severe disease progression with Eris. However, it has been found that the vaccination protection against Eris is lower compared to other virus variants. This could be attributed to the fact that EG.5 is a descendant of XBB.1.9.2, also known as “Arkturus,” and carries an additional spike mutation. This mutation may help the virus escape the immune response, making it more transmissible. However, more evidence is needed to confirm this.
Some terms that need clarification:
- Spike Mutation: Refers to the spike protein of a virus, which is responsible for its entry into host cells. Some highly effective vaccines target the spike protein as the vaccine antigen. However, if there is a mutation in the spike protein, it can affect the effectiveness of the vaccine and the immune response.
- Immune Response: Also known as the immune reaction, it is the response of the immune system to potentially harmful influences, such as viruses.
- Immune Escape: The process by which viruses use mutation or specific mechanisms to avoid detection or defense by the immune system.
WHO Assesses the Risk of Eris
The World Health Organization has stated that current findings suggest Eris poses a low risk to public health on a global level. However, due to its growth advantage and immune escape properties, it is estimated that the variant could cause an increase in the number of cases and become the dominant variant worldwide. Within a span of four weeks, EG.5’s share in all detected SARS-CoV-2 variants worldwide increased from 7.6 percent to 17.6 percent in 51 countries. The majority of evidence of the variant comes from China, the USA, and Korea.
Decline in New Infections and Deaths
According to the WHO, since the global coronavirus health emergency was declared over three months ago, there has been a continuous decline in new infections and deaths. However, the data situation has deteriorated, with only a quarter of all countries providing death figures to the WHO in July, and only 11 percent reporting figures for serious cases.
Vaccination Recommendations
The WHO advises that even though severe cases with the new variant are unlikely, it is still recommended to get vaccinated. This is especially important to prevent potential long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infections and to protect employees in medical and nursing care.
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