“The Eris Strain: Debunking the Hype Behind EG.5.1, the Newest COVID-19 Variant”

Why COVID-19 variant ‘Eris’, or EG.5.1, may not live up to its dramatic name

By the Specialist Reporting Team’s Leonie Thorne

Posted 12 hours ago Wed 9 Aug 2023 at 7:22pm , updated 6 hours ago Thu 10 Aug 2023 at 1:37am

A COVID-19 variant nicknamed “Eris” — after the Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord — has been in the news after spreading overseas. But the variant has actually been in Australia for four months without causing much strife at all. So why is it making headlines now, and will cases spike in Australia?

What is EG.5.1, aka ‘Eris’?

Over time the virus has evolved and mutated, creating dozens of different variations that are all part of the big COVID-19 family. EG.5.1 is one of those, and is an offshoot of a variant called EG.5. Because keeping track of all these variants can get confusing, a scientist on Twitter gave it the nickname “Eris” — and the moniker has stuck.

What countries is it spreading in and how fast is it growing?

EG.5.1 cases have been climbing in many countries including China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. And even though it has only appeared in the news this week, it has actually been spreading in low numbers in Australia since April. Just 78 infections have been found in Australia so far, mostly in New South Wales and Queensland. The true number is likely to be far higher because so few people get tested these days. Although infections are growing in some countries, it’s not at a rate that should cause alarm, says James Wood, a professor at the UNSW School of Population Health in Sydney. “EG.5.1 is not a significant issue of itself – more like the first step on the ladder to the variant that will cause our next wave,” he said.

How is Eris different from other COVID variants?

If you zoom in on any COVID variant with a microscope, you’ll see something resembling a spiky ball. The pointy bits are called spike proteins, which are what viruses use to hook into human cells and cause infections. EG.5.1 has a small quirk in one of its spike proteins — called F456L — that helps it evade the immunity your body has built from previous infections and vaccines. “That essentially makes it a little bit more slippery and evasive to pre-existing antibodies,” says virologist Stuart Turville, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales’ Kirby Institute. “So it has a little bit of an edge.” This means it’s more transmissible than some other variants, including Omicron. But there’s no evidence it makes people sicker or more likely to die. “We don’t detect a change in severity of EG.5 compared to other sub-lineages of Omicron that have been in circulation since late 2021,” the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said.

When can I get a vaccine that works against Eris?

Older vaccines may not stop you from getting infected with EG.5.1, but some coming in the future will help. Several companies are creating booster shots that target a variant called XBB.1.5, which has been dominating infections for a while now. The EG.5 family of variants descends from the XBB family, so they have a lot in common. Scientists say because these two variants are so similar, the XBB.1.5 vaccine will also give good protection against EG.5.1. These new vaccines are expected to become available in the United States next month and may be offered in Australia later in the year. It’s worth noting that all COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness and death, no matter the variant.

Is Eris dangerous?

Scientists say EG.5.1 is unlikely to live up to its dramatic moniker. So far, the reported symptoms are similar to those of other variants, such as a runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, and sneezing. Scientists such as Dr. Turville are constantly monitoring different variants circulating in Australia. “It’s not something to get anxious about. It’s just something we’re keeping an eye on, so to speak,” he said. Professor Wood says EG.5.1 isn’t pushing infections up enough to cause another huge wave but may end up evolving into a more transmissible variant down the track. “This is the start of a new round of changes to the virus,” he said.