New Variant Of Covid-19, Named ‘Eris’ Detected In Ireland.

A new variant of Covid-19, a descendant of Omicron, designated EG.5 and named ‘Eris’ has been detected in Ireland, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not designated EG.5 as a variant of concern or while being closely monitored, is not a variant of interest. The HSE have stated that ‘Eris’ however is more transmissible than previous circulating variants and has been associated with recent outbreaks in hospitals in Ireland, the USA and in England; in the case of the latter classified as a variant on July 31st last.

The symptoms of ‘Eris’ are as follows: Sore throat; Runny nose; Blocked nose; Sneezing; Dry cough; Headache; Wet cough; Hoarse voice; Muscle aches and Altered smell.

**New variant of Covid-19, a descendant of Omicron, designated EG.5, on the rise.**
*Pic. G. Willoughby*.

The Public Health Agency said that the Sars-COV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, remains in circulation and is constantly evolving, with new variants arising frequently. With summer holidays the rise in cases at home and internationally is being driven by greater indoor interaction, increased international travel and obviously waning immunity.

There remain currently known, some 408 cases in hospitals with the virus, up from 121 two weeks ago, and of these, 12 people remain in ICU.

However it should be kept in mind that sadly, since the pandemic began, there have been some 1.7 million PCR cases confirmed as having Covid-19 and 9,125 deaths recorded in Ireland.
Globally, some 1 million new covid-19 cases and more than 3,100 deaths were reported in the 28 days up to August 3rd last, according to the latest World Health Organization report. This brings the death toll to almost 7 million since the pandemic began.