Eris: The recently discovered strain of COVID-19 known as EG.5.1

An Omicron subvariant also known as Eris or EG.5.1, was initially classified as a variant in the United Kingdom (UK) on July 31, 2023. It has now become the second most widespread variant in the UK, with Arcturus or XBB.1.16 variant being the most prevalent at 39.4% infection cases according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Eris or EG.5.1 has shown relevant increase worldwide in a matter of weeks following its addition to the World Health Organization official monitoring list. It was reported that 10% of the total Covid cases in the UK were from this strain.

On July 3, 2023, the UKHSA raised Eris or EG.5.1 as a signal for monitoring due increased reports in Asia and around the world. The World Health Organization considered Eris or EG.5.1 variant as variant of interest and shall be monitored for mutations that could lead to increase in Covid cases.

During the week of July 10, 2023, it was reported that 11.8% of the UK sequences had been categorized as Eris (data as of July 27, 2023) and recent data indicated that 14.6% of the total cases were accounted for the Eris variant.

According to the ZOE Health Study, the five most common symptoms of Omicron are runny nose, headache, fatigue (mild or severe), sneezing, and sore throat.

According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy summary and a recent podcast from the American Medical Association, the spike protein is the part of the virus that allows it to enter human cells. However, there's no indication so far that EG.5 is more contagious or severe than other recent variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that current vaccines protect against the variant.

According to Independent Sage member Prof Christina Pagel during an interview with The Independent, she concludes that the UK is expecting to experience another wave of Covid cases due to subvariants Arcturus and Eris which cause decrease in immunity and wet weather. It was mentioned that in September, there is a possibility that the Eris variant may expect increase in cases as kids are returning to schools, and adults are working or starting university; and more significantly most of the people will spend more indoors.

Despite the expected rise in Covid cases by September, Professor Azeem Majeed, the head of primary care and public health at Imperial College of London said to an interview with The Independent, that people should not worry on the recent increase in Covid cases as this is expected to fluctuate and there will be a certain period that number of cases in UK will increase.

The significance and effectiveness of rapid antigen tests lie in their ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, thereby playing a crucial role in curbing the transmission of the virus.

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