WHO classifies 'Eris' COVID strain as 'variant of interest’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the EG.5 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in different parts of the world, including India, as a “variant of interest” but said it did not seem to pose more of a threat to public health than other strains.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the EG.5 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in different parts of the world, including India, as a "variant of interest" but said it did not seem to pose more of a threat to public health than other strains.

EG.5 or Eris variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first reported on February 17 this year, and designated as a variant under monitoring (VUM) on July 19.

In its latest risk evaluation on August 9, the WHO designated EG.5 and its sub-lineages as a variant of interest (VOI).

Variants are broadly categorised into three categories: (1) "variants of interest," (2) "variants of concern" and (3) "variants of high consequence.”

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), VOIs are defined as variants with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes that may cause enhanced transmissibility or virulence, reduction in neutralisation by antibodies obtained through natural infection or vaccination.

EG.5 is a descendent lineage of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.2. It carries an additional mutation in the spike protein — which the SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter and infect the human cells — compared to the parent subvariant.

Within the EG.5 lineage, the subvariant EG.5.1 has an additional spike mutation and represents 88 per cent of the available sequences for EG.5 and its descendent lineages, the WHO said.