EG.5 Variant of COVID-19 Remains Prevalent

The EG.5 variant of COVID-19 continues to dominate as the most prevalent among the three variants of interest (VOIs) monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the week leading up to Sept. 10, it accounted for 33.6% of sequences submitted to a central database, showcasing an increase from 25.9% four weeks prior.

Dubbed Eris, following the Greek-alphabet naming convention for other variants, the EG.5 variant is currently considered to pose a low additional risk to public health globally. This aligns with the risks associated with other circulating VOIs, namely XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.6, both of which are declining in prevalence worldwide. The WHO shared this information in its latest epidemiological update released early Monday.

The announcement coincided with the Nobel Prize in medicine being awarded to two scientists whose groundbreaking work paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Presently, the WHO is monitoring seven variants under a lesser designation known as variant under monitoring (VUMs), in addition to the VOIs.

As has been the case for several months, the agency cautioned that due to reduced testing and sequencing efforts in many countries, it is becoming increasingly challenging to assess the impact of SARSCoV-2 variants with mutations that could potentially enhance transmissibility.

The WHO emphasized that there have been no laboratory or epidemiological reports indicating any link between VOIs/VUMs and increased severity of the disease.

However, this lack of information may stem from limited and unrepresentative levels of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, obscuring the complete picture.

The WHO's Transition to a Four-Week COVID Update Schedule

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently made a significant change in its approach to providing updates on the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the previous weekly updates, the WHO has now moved to a four-week schedule. This transition reflects the organization's shift in focus from emergency response to long-term prevention, control, and management of the disease.

Despite this change, the WHO continues to emphasize the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19. It urges countries not to dismantle their existing infrastructure but instead maintain early warning systems, surveillance, and reporting mechanisms. Additionally, the WHO stresses the importance of tracking new variants and providing early clinical care and vaccines, especially to high-risk patient groups.

Positive Trends Amidst Concerns

The latest update from the WHO indicates a decrease in reported COVID-19 cases. However, it also reveals a concerning rise in hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Over a 28-day period ending on September 17th, the WHO recorded a total of 95,999 hospitalizations and 985 new ICU visits. These figures represent an increase of 42% and 12% respectively when compared to the previous 28-day period.

It is important to note that the WHO did not receive data from certain countries, which does not necessarily mean that those countries have zero hospitalizations. As an example, no data was provided from countries in the East Mediterranean Region, including Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Syrian Arab Republic, Israel, Libya, Jordan, the U.A.E., Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Djibouti, and the State of Palestine.

Staying Informed and Prepared

As the situation continues to evolve, it is essential to remain vigilant and adaptive in our efforts to combat the pandemic. The WHO's transition to a four-week update schedule signifies a broader shift towards long-term strategies against COVID-19. Let us all play our part in sustaining early warning systems, prioritizing surveillance, and ensuring access to necessary clinical care and vaccines.