What is known about the new coronavirus variant Eris: What is the Eris variant, what are its symptoms?

Cases of the Eris variant, identified by the World Health Organization as EG.5.1, are increasing rapidly worldwide. 

It is known that the Eris variant, a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, has been detected in over 50 countries. 

As the Eris variant spreads rapidly across the globe, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced in a statement that the Eris variant has been detected in 9 people in Turkey.

In his post, Minister Koca stated, "The Eris variant, whose low virulence we are aware of, was detected in 9 people during examinations at our Reference Laboratory. They have international contacts and are in the same province." 

Following Minister Koca's statement, details about the Eris variant have become a subject of curiosity. So, what is the Eris variant, and what are its symptoms?

WHAT IS THE ERIS VARIANT?

Experts define the Eris variant as a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. First detected in South Africa in February 2023, the Eris variant has spread to other parts of the world with rapid transmission. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Eris variant can cause symptoms similar to other variants of Covid-19. It is not yet fully known whether the Eris variant is more contagious than other variants or whether it causes more severe symptoms than the known serious symptoms of Covid-19. However, some studies suggest that the Eris variant may be more contagious than previous variants.

ERIS VARIANT (ERIS VIRUS) SYMPTOMS

The World Health Organization has determined that the symptoms of the Eris variant are similar to those of other Covid-19 variants. The most common symptoms are:

Fever,

Cough,

Sore throat,

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,

Muscle aches or muscle weakness,

Headache,

Fatigue,

Runny or stuffy nose,

Loss of taste or smell,

Diarrhea or stomach upset.

HOW IS THE ERIS VIRUS TRANSMITTED?

According to statements, the Eris variant spreads through small droplets in the air released by an infected person during coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing, and can be inhaled by a healthy person.

Additionally, touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching contaminated surfaces can lead to the transmission of the virus. Therefore, maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, ensuring hand hygiene, and following the recommendations of health authorities are important to reduce the risk of infection.