A new variant of COVID-19 that has the dominant strain in the U. S. The U. S. Department of Health has arrived in Ontario, according to public fitness officials.
In a report released last month, Public Health Ontario (PHO) said EG. 5, a descendant of the Omicron variant, accounted for 5. 2% of all infections reported and genetically sequenced between July 2 and 8.
With a weekly expansion rate of 1. 90%, PHO said instances of EG. 5 (or Eris, as some call it) are expected to account for 35% of all infections through Aug. 2, the most recent date available.
So what does the emergence of a COVID-19 variant mean to you?CTV News Toronto sat down with Dr. Fahad Razak, an internal medicine physician and former clinical director of the Ontario COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board, to get some answers.
Like variants that appeared before EG. 5, Razak said a new edition of the virus is not unforeseen 3 1/2 years after the pandemic.
“We’ve noticed that the editions of the virus continue to mutate, and the ones that can evade its immune formula are the non-unusual maximum edit in circulation, which makes sense, because those are the ones that can spread between people,” Razak explained. .
In the U. S. , the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said EG. 5 accounted for about 17. 3, or one in six, of new COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, in the UK, around 14. 6%, or one in seven: of all COVID-19 cases are EG. 5.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that EG. 5 for the first time “appeared as a signal of vigilance. . . due to an increased number of overseas reports, specifically in Asia” on July 3 and said a variant on July 31 due to “continued expansion. “abroad. “
“Based on the increase seen in the UK and the US. “In the U. S. , as well as the trajectory here in Canada, this will most likely be the main release of the virus very soon here as well,” Razak said.
As it stands, there is no evidence that EG. 5 can cause more severe illness than previous versions of the virus.
“We will monitor this closely, but there is no indication that he has any specific homes that are concerning. It’s just a continuous evolution of the virus, unexpected,” Razak said.
Wastewater data from the Toronto and Ontario metropolitan area suggest that while viral activity is still very low, in addition to a buildup in March and April, it has been trending upward over the past month.
“We are seeing a buildup on our wastewater sign here in Ontario for the first time in about nine months. It has been declining since December. The same goes for the number of tests that come back positive. And that suggests we’re starting to see a small building here toward the end of the summer,” Razak said.
In addition to the obvious infections, Razak noted, there are unique facets to this summer’s weather, which have included excessive heat and varying degrees of air quality.
“This is all as planned. And possibly we also feel a little bit of the acceleration of that effect, because of the exceptionally hot weather and high levels of air pollutants that have led other people to be farther indoors than they would be in a different way at this time of year,” he said.
Knowledge of COVID-19 wastewater in Ontario is presented in this graph. (Public Health Ontario)
Based on what happened in the final few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will most likely be a buildup in cases as cooler weather approaches. However, according to Razak, this fall will be different to control the spread of infections and keep up. Ontario health care formula due to advances in vaccination.
“As expected, this fall and winter we will again see the combined effect of the 3 viruses (COVID-19, RSV and influenza). And the good news is that we will have for the first time a vaccine for all 3 for vulnerable adults,” he said.
Last week, Health Canada approved the first RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older, with “limited” deployment during this fall’s respiratory virus season.
Meanwhile, the most recent iteration of COVID-19 vaccine boosters points to an edition of the virus that is “pretty close” to EG. 5 and offers fairly good coverage against the disease and its spread, Razak said.
“So it’s an exciting time for clinical progression and to give other people the feeling that we’re gradually putting more and more protections in place. Just stop by and get what’s available.
Like the recommendation public fitness officials have issued since the beginning of the pandemic, wearing masks, staying home when sick, and smart ventilation and indoor air quality remain the defense against COVID-19.
“I think it’s the common sense approaches that we’ve been talking about, that at this point in the pandemic, I think it’s vital that we review to adopt and use as much as possible,” Razak said.
“Because, obviously, at this point, we’re going to have a massive overwhelming reaction like we had earlier in the pandemic, and the virus itself doesn’t recommend that we necessarily want it. “