August 7, 2023 – COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise this summer, and now a new variant is at the most sensitive point on the virus’ most common bureaucracy list.
Called “Eris,” avid COVID trackers, the EG. 5 strain now accounts for 17% of all COVID infections in the United States, according to the CDC’s most recent estimates. This figure is up from 12% last week.
EG. 5 is around the world, just weeks after the World Health Organization added the strain to its official watch list. In the UK, this now accounts for 1 in 10 COVID cases, The Independent reported.
EG. 5 is a descendant of the XBB strains that have dominated watch lists in recent months. It has the same composition as XBB. 1. 9. 2 but carries an additional spike mutation, according to a summary published through Cinput for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. At the University of Minnesota. La Spike protein is the component of the virus that allows it to enter human cells. But so far there is no evidence that EG. 5 is more contagious or severe than other recent variants, according to the CIDRAP summary and a recent podcast from the American Medical Association. The CDC said existing vaccines oppose the variant.
U. S. Hospitals U. S. admissions saw a 12% increase in COVID-related admissions last week, with another 8,035 people admitted due to the virus, up from a record low of 6,306 in the week of June 24. In 17 states, hospitalizations increased during the following week, 20% or more. In Minnesota, the rate jumped to 50 percent and in West Virginia, to 63 percent. Meanwhile, deaths reached their lowest weekly rate on record for the week of knowledge ending July 29, with only 176 deaths reported. through the CDC.
SOURCES:
CDC: “Variant Ratios: Current Estimates,” “Trends in Hospitalizations, Deaths, Emergency Department (ED) Visits, and U. S. Test Positivity”We are in the U. S. across the geographic area. “
The Independent: “Covid Eris symptoms: Everything we know about the new variant on the rise”.
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP): “WHO adds Omicron EG. 5 to variant surveillance as COVID markers decline further. “
American Medical Association: “New COVID Insights into Blood Types, Excess Deaths, EG. 5 Variant, and FDA-Approved RSV Vaccine for Infants. “
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