Factbox: Eris - The Coronavirus new sub-variant EG.5

Ahram Online , Friday 18 Aug 2023

Public health experts worldwide are showing greater interest in a novel coronavirus sub-variant called EG.5, unofficially nicknamed “Eris,” now emerging as the dominant strain globally.

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Though the virus has waned lately due to successful vaccination campaigns, the WHO said that within the 28-day span ending on 3 August, there were over 1 million newly reported COVID-19 cases globally, in addition to more than 3,100 deaths that raised the overall death toll to 6.9 million since the outbreak of the pandemic.   

In mid-July, the WHO designated EG.5 as a variant of interest (VOI), labelling it as a descendant of XBB.1.9.2, a mixture of subspecies of the Omicron variant.

Experts have advised the public to take precautionary measures notwithstanding the official statement by the Ministry of Health denying any reported cases of EG.5 in Egypt and the confirmation by the WHO that the new variant poses a low risk to public health.  

Islam Anan, an epidemics specialist and a pharma economics lecturer at Misr International University (MIU), believes that when the share of EG.5 increases from 7.6 percent to 17.4 percent only in countries that still report cases, it means the variant is currently present in most countries.

Where is EG.5 Spreading?
 

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports infections have been identified in 51 countries.

Most EG.5 sequences come from China (30.6 percent, 2247 sequences). Other countries with over 100 sequences include the United States of America (18.4 percent, 1356 sequences), the Republic of Korea (14.1 percent, 1040 sequences), Japan (11.1 percent, 814 sequences), Canada (5.3 percent, 392 sequences), Australia (2.1 percent, 158 sequences), Singapore (2.1 percent, 154 sequences), the United Kingdom (2.0 percent, 150 sequences), France (1.6 percent, 119 sequences), Portugal (1.6 percent, 115 sequences), and Spain (1.5 percent, 107 sequences).

Danger level
 

Anan indicated no evidence that the current sub-variant EG.5 is any more severe or dangerous than its predecessors. However, it still has areas of divergence.

“What distinguishes the new variant is its higher transmissibility and increased ability to evade vaccines,” he told Ahram Online.

The newly updated vaccines that will help better combat the new variant’s symptoms will not arrive before October or even later in November, Anan said.

“Due to its growth advantage and immune escape characteristics, EG.5 may cause a rise in case incidence and become dominant in some countries or even globally,” the WHO said in its latest report on 9 August.

EG.5 symptoms
 

The symptoms of EG.5 do not differ from XBB, according to Anan.

After the incubation period, the patient may suffer from high temperature, fatigue, and a runny nose.

Furthermore, they could lose the sense of taste and smell and suffer from blocked ears, pain in the eyes, headaches, stomach pain, and even diarrhoea.

Anan noted that the real danger threatens the four vulnerable segments: people over 65, immune-compromised individuals, people with chronic illnesses, and those who work in the health sector.

Recommendations
 

For his part, Anan recommends that people in Egypt wear masks in public places, stressing that individuals especially vulnerable to COVID-19 should maintain their vaccine regimen and wear KN95 masks.

He also noted that mindfulness of public health is essential to combat the spread of the virus and the possible spread of EG.5 in Egypt.

In conclusion, Anan explained that while the peak of the current wave has already passed locally, the number of cases is prone to rise in November.

Therefore, people should remain vigilant to protect themselves and others.

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