New Covid Variant EG.5 Becomes Dominant Strain in the U.S.

A new Covid variant known as EG.5, or “Eris,” has emerged as the most prevalent strain in the United States, surpassing the previous dominant strain XBB.1.16, also known as “Arcturus.” According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), EG.5 accounted for 17.3% of all cases in the two-week period from July 23 to August 5, a significant increase from its previous representation of 0.4% between April 30 and May 13.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” a step below a variant of concern. Previously, on July 19, WHO labeled it a “variant under monitoring.” While EG.5 has led to an increase in cases and hospitalizations, experts do not believe its symptoms are more severe than previous omicron variants. WHO has stated that EG.5 poses a low risk to public health compared to other omicron offspring, as there is no evidence to suggest it causes more severe cases.

EG.5 is a recombinant strain, resulting from the combination of two Covid variants during the replication process. This can occur when a person is infected with two variants simultaneously. It belongs to the omicron family and is a descendant of another strain labeled XBB.1.9.2. Notably, EG.5 carries an additional mutation on its spike called mutation 465, which is present in approximately 35% of coronavirus sequences worldwide. Many XBB variants also possess this mutation, although experts are unsure of its implications.

According to the World Health Organization’s report, EG.5 first appeared in February and already has a subvariant called EG.5.1, which carries a second mutation on the spike. Despite being a new variant, EG.5’s symptoms are not more severe or different from previous variants, according to David Ho, a professor at Columbia University. However, EG.5 exhibits more immune escape compared to other variants, which may explain its global spread. Common symptoms associated with EG.5 include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, chest pain, congestion, cough, headache, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell, similar to earlier Covid strains.

Although current boosters are not specifically designed to protect against EG.5 or EG.5.1, experts hope that they will work broadly on XBB variants, as EG.5 and EG.5.1 are descendants of XBBs.

Ashwin Vasan, the New York City health commissioner, reassured the public, stating, “The good news is that we’re not seeing anything in the virus that suggests it’s getting more transmissible or more lethal. What this really is, is just waning immunity… This is part of living with Covid, and these fluctuations are to be expected.”

The rise of the EG.5 variant coincides with a summer surge in Covid cases in the United States. Despite the challenges in monitoring since the lifting of the Covid Public Health Emergency in May, some tracking efforts continue. The CDC reported a 12.5% increase in hospitalizations in the week ending July 29, with over 9,000 new hospitalizations. In New York State, cases have risen by 55%, and hospitalizations have increased by 22%. Florida has also experienced a spike in cases, with over 15,000 new cases reported in the week ending August 3, a 21% increase from the previous week. Walgreens has reported that 48.3% of all Covid tests conducted at its stores across California have come back positive, the highest number since January and nearly double the figure recorded in June.

As the situation continues to evolve, it is crucial for individuals to stay informed and follow public health guidelines to mitigate the spread of the EG.5 variant and protect themselves and their communities.

Sources:
– Forbes
– CNN

What is the significance of the additional mutation (mutation 465) found in the spike of the EG.5 variant, and what are its implications for public health

New Covid Variant EG.5 Emerges as Dominant Strain in the U.S.

The United States is facing a new challenge in the fight against Covid-19 as a variant known as EG.5, or “Eris,” has become the most prevalent strain in the country. This variant has surpassed the previous dominant strain, XBB.1.16, also known as “Arcturus.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that EG.5 accounted for 17.3% of all cases in the span of two weeks, from July 23 to August 5. This represents a significant increase from its earlier representation of 0.4% between April 30 and May 13.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” it is still considered a step below a more concerning variant. Previously, on July 19, the WHO labeled EG.5 as a “variant under monitoring.” Although EG.5 has led to an increase in cases and hospitalizations, medical professionals do not believe its symptoms are more severe than previous omicron variants. The WHO has stated that EG.5 poses a low risk to public health compared to other omicron offspring, as there is no evidence to suggest it causes more severe cases.

EG.5 is a recombinant strain that results from the combination of two Covid variants during the replication process. This can occur when a person is simultaneously infected with two variants. It belongs to the omicron family and is derived from another strain called XBB.1.9.2. Notably, EG.5 carries an additional mutation on its spike, known as mutation 465, which is present in approximately 35% of coronavirus sequences worldwide. Many XBB variants also possess this mutation, although experts are unsure of its implications.

According to the World Health Organization’s report, EG.5 first appeared in February, and there is already a subvariant called EG.5.1 that carries a second mutation on the spike. Despite being a new variant, EG.5’s symptoms are not more severe or different from previous variants, according to David Ho, a professor at Columbia University.