Amid an ongoing global pandemic, a new variant of coronavirus has emerged. Known as EG.5, this variant has been garnering attention for its ability to evade immunity acquired from vaccines and its heightened transferability.
COVID was first identified in Wuhan, China in 2019. After an outbreak, the virus slowly began to spread throughout other countries, where it eventually reached the United States on Jan. 20, 2020. It was officially declared a pandemic two months later on Mar. 11, 2020. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and headaches. The tell-tale signs usually make an appearance within two to fourteen days after exposure.
EG.5 was responsible for more than 20.6% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. at the end of the third week of August, according to Yale Medicine.
Health professionals around the world are closely monitoring the situation, and research efforts are underway to better understand the variant.
Based on its genetic properties, EG.5 is capable of evading immunity given to the body through vaccines. Additionally, this variant has astonishing growth potential, although it’s hard to definitively estimate the percentage of the variant throughout the country. The risk level of this variant is moderate, although if its estimated growth rates are sustained, experts believe that it may become the dominant COVID variant globally.
EG.5 tends to affect the upper respiratory tract, causing cold-like symptoms. People who have weaker immune systems or are 65 and up are at
higher risk of contracting the variant. Efforts to contain the spread of EG.5 include social distancing measures, mask mandates, and travel restrictions in areas experiencing a surge in cases caused by this variant. Additionally, scientists are making an effort to develop vaccines that can effectively abate EG.5.
The emergence of this variant is a stark reminder that the battle against COVID-19 is far from over. As the world faces a new threat, individuals must remain informed, take precautions, and trust in science professionals’ ability to respond to emerging challenges like EG.5.
