2023-08-08 08:11:34
The times of lockdown and compulsory masks may be over, but the corona virus is far from disappearing from the scene. A new virus variant called “Eris” is now causing increasing numbers of new infections and alarming experts.
The hot phase of the coronavirus pandemic may be over, but Sar-CoV-2 is far from disappearing from the scene and continues to mutate happily. Image: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt
Most people still vividly remember the obligation to wear masks, contact restrictions, lockdown and the like – the hot phase of the corona pandemic may have subsided in the meantime and the familiar everyday life has returned, but the corona virus with its pitfalls is far from being eradicated. Rather, Sars-CoV-2 continues to be rampant and evolving – a new virus variant is currently causing health experts to be more alert due to the increasing number of new infections in Great Britain.
Current coronavirus news: New variant of Omicron increases the number of cases
As reported by the British “Daily Star”, among others, the virus variant that is currently causing concern is a descendant of the widespread omicron variant, which researchers have christened “Eris”. The EG.5.1 virus variant has recently caused the number of infections to skyrocket, and within a few weeks the number of people infected with the corona virus in Great Britain has doubled, it said.
WHO has had coronavirus EG.5.1 aka “Eris” on screen since May 2023
According to the World Health Organization, the Eris variant had already been detected in early May and was under special surveillance by the WHO. Although EG.5.1 is not currently considered a coronavirus variant of extremely high concern, a massive increase in new infections due to Eris can be observed, as Dr. Mary Ramsay of the UK Health Security Agency. According to the expert, not only the number of cases, but also the number of hospital admissions as a result of a coronavirus infection with EG.5.1 would increase significantly, and older patients in particular would have to go to the clinic more often due to Sars-CoV-2. Overall, however, the hospitals are far from being overburdened like they were at the deepest times of the pandemic.
Coronavirus variant EG.5.1: These symptoms indicate an infection with “Eris”
According to the experts, in-depth knowledge of the Eris variant of the coronavirus is not yet available, but it is already becoming apparent that the basic features of EG.5.1 are similar to the Omicron variant. In addition to a sore throat, runny nose and a blocked nose, as well as attacks of sneezing and a dry cough, headaches, hoarseness, muscle pain and an altered sense of smell can also be observed with an infection with EG.5.1. Compared to previous coronavirus variants, however, shortness of breath, a complete loss of smell and fever are no longer typical symptoms of an Eris infection.
Virologists worried about the increasing number of new infections: These factors are causing the number of cases to increase
Experts attribute the fact that the number of coronavirus infections has skyrocketed in the recent past not only to the new omicron variant, but also to other accompanying circumstances. For example, the rainy and cool weather of the past few weeks and days favored the occurrence of infection, as more people stayed indoors instead of outdoors. Also not to be dismissed out of hand are the increased infections from blockbusters such as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”, which attracted countless film fans to the cinemas, where the corona virus was able to spread easily.
A first wake-up call for the researchers with regard to the approaching autumn and winter: One must keep an eye on new coronavirus variants in order to be able to intervene adequately in the colder season and keep the infection process under control, said the virologist Professor Lawrence Young von of the University of Warwick to consider.
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