So, What is Eris?
By Alison Adduono, Director of Marketing Communication
Yes – COVID-19 is on the rise again and that is thanks mostly in part to the latest variant EG.5. Nicknamed Eris, this latest strain, according to genetic sequencing, appears to be related to Omicron subvariant called XBB.1.9.2. Now the dominant variant in the US, as well as reported in several other countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned it may become dominant globally.¹
As for how “Eris” is pronounced…. well, (LOL) the jury is still out on that one. Turn on the news and you are bound to hear it said a few different ways. But if you are curious, you could always check out this pronunciation resource.²
The word Eris itself comes from the Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord. So, the latest variant appears to be aptly named given its latest disruption as kids start heading back to school.
How contagious or spreadable is it?
Well as of latest news on August 11th, Eris is estimated to make up 17.3% of US COVID-19 cases and is spreading quickly.³ In fact, some experts have warned that it may be more transmissible than previous variants.³ Eris differs from other viruses in the XBB lineage because its spike protein has undergone new mutations, which are responsible for its ability to latch on and infect cells.⁴
To see the latest case counts, check out these interactive CDC maps by state⁷ and county.⁸
What are the symptoms?
To date symptoms appear to be consistent with cold/flu and previous COVID-19 variants⁵ as follows:
Cough
Fever
Chills
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Body aches
Headaches
Loss of taste and/or smell
Should I/you be worried?
According to experts, there is no need to worry. Eris does not appear to be more severe than previous variants, however they still recommend taking precautions.¹ The immune-compromised and those with underlying health conditions can still be negatively affected much like they were before.
Will vaccines protect me from EG.5?
While it appears to be able to evade immunity provided by existing vaccines and previous infections, experts are hopeful that the new COVID-19 shots expected to come out this fall will work against EG.5.¹
Photo Credit: iStock by Getty Images
Will COVID-19 tests detect EG.5?
According to Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, in an interview with Today, “All COVID-19 tests — including PCR tests performed by a medical provider and rapid at-home antigen tests sold over-the-counter — should be detecting EG.5.”⁵
In order to help determine if COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines authorized or approved for use in the United States are effective against emerging variants, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) constantly manages national genomic sequencing information and phenotypic data.⁶
Manufacturers, like Anavasi Diagnostics, routinely check their assays against the latest emerging variant sequences to ensure that they are continuing to detect them. We are happy to say that the proprietary technology and robust assay in our AscencioDx® Molecular Detector and COVID-19 test has continued to detect 99.99% of the Omicron variants.
With the continuing uptick in cases and respiratory season just around the corner, point of care facilities should already be stocking up their testing supplies. The AscencioDx Molecular Detector, which is proudly manufactured in the USA, provides actionable positive results in as little as 20 minutes and is currently in stock.
To learn more about our detector, visit our website (www.anavasidx.com) or contact our sales department at sales@anavasidx.com.
The AscencioDx®…. Where Speed, Efficiency, and Accuracy Align.
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Resources:
What to know about the 'Eris' COVID variant | Popular Science (popsci.com)
New COVID Subvariant Eris Symptoms: What To Know About EG.5 (today.com)
Where Speed, Efficiency, & Accuracy Align
The AscencioDx® Covid-19 Test and The AscencioDx® Molecular Detector have not been FDA cleared or approved, but have been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories. This product has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.
