Surge in Global Covid Variants Sparks Concern as Cases Rise

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated a new variant of COVID-19, known as EG.5 or "Eris," as a variant of interest. While the variant is growing in prevalence globally, the WHO has assessed the public health risk as low, stating that there have been no reported changes in disease severity. However, experts warn that Eris may be better at evading the immune system and could lead to a wave of more cases, hospitalizations, and long COVID. The WHO recommends member states prioritize monitoring for changes in severity and understanding antibody escape. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that Eris accounts for an estimated 15% of sequenced COVID-19 cases in England. Vaccination remains crucial in defending against future waves of COVID-19.