"Emerging EG.5 Variant Surges in Japan Amidst COVID-19 Crisis"
The new coronavirus variant EG.5 is rapidly spreading in Japan and has been detected in 51 countries. While there is currently limited evidence suggesting it causes more severe symptoms compared to other omicron strains, the World Health Organization has upgraded EG.5 to a "variant of interest" from its previous "variant under monitoring" status.