New Covid Variant ERIS Detected in India
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed the latest COVID-19 variant, EG.5.1, or ERIS, on its radar as cases started picking up in the US and UK.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed the latest COVID-19 variant, EG.5.1, or ERIS, on its radar as cases started picking up in the US and UK. In India, there has been only one reported case of the EG.5.1 variant, identified in Pune in May 2023.
It was identified and duly reported to all concerned authorities in Maharashtra and the Centre. However, experts say there is no need to panic at this point. They have made a strong case for research into developing variant-specific vaccine boosters and pan-Coronavirus vaccines, preferably nasal ones, that need to be scaled up.
The symptoms are the same as previous variants, like cough, cold, fever, throat pain and chest tightness. It also appears to be more contagious than previous variants. As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the ERIS variant is spreading very rapidly.
A doctor from Maharashtra said, “We need to keep a close watch and need to follow normal hygiene like hand wash and masks in public places which also effectively reduces the risk of other viral and some bacterial infections. The cases in Maharashtra are not of too much concern but again, since this is flu season and season of fever due to other causes too, like malaria, typhoid, and Dengue, we are not testing enough for Covid, so cases may be missed. We need to be careful if we see a sudden spike in fever cases where no cause could be established."
