Published on August 18, 2023

New COVID-19 Variant 'Eris' is on the Rise – What You Need to Know

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Eris, scientifically known as EG.5, is the most recent subvariant of the COVID-19 omicron variant. In late July and early August, nearly 12 percent of all COVID-19 cases nationwide were identified as this variant.

The Eris subvariant is currently the most prevalent version of the virus in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As is the case with the most recent strains, it is likely more communicable and people should take the same sensible COVID-19 precautions to help avoid infection. According to infectious disease experts, the variant should not prompt concerns about a return to earlier stages of the pandemic.

What is Eris?

The latest version of omicron, nicknamed ‘Eris,’ is an offshoot of Omicron and has become the most common strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. It is very transmissible and may be contributing to an uptick in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations but the health threat posed by the variant is low and similar to other circulating variants. The number of infections hasn’t increased as much as in past summers. Most people with COVID-19 are reporting mild symptoms, and hospitalizations in the U.S. are significantly lower than they were last year at this time.

What Are the Symptoms of Eris?

Newer COVID-19 variants have very mild symptoms in general compared to the earlier variants and can very much mimic the common cold. Common symptoms now include: 

  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • sneezing
  • coughing with or without phlegm
  • headache
  • body aches and pains
  • an altered sense of smell

How is Eris different from other variants and subvariants we've seen in the past?

While it doesn’t produce more severe disease, it's more transmissible than prior variants.

Eris differs from earlier strains in at least two ways:

  • It tends to produce more fever than some of the other strains
  • It tends to produce more cold-like symptoms

How do the current COVID-19 vaccines and boosters work to combat the Eris strain?

While there are not yet any vaccines that specifically target EG.5, existing vaccines and coronavirus treatments that work on omicron appear to work well against it.

Preparations are underway for this fall to administer booster doses of coronavirus vaccines made with a new formula targeting the XBB subvariants that have accounted for most infections in 2023. The updated boosters will be better aligned against the viruses circulating now than the current formula targeting the BA.5 subvariant that became dominant in summer 2022.

What are some of the current treatments for COVID-19 and its variants?

Today, most people with COVID-19 experience mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), to help you feel better.

If symptoms are more severe, you can consult with your health care provider to see if any of these medication options to treat COVID-19 are right for you:

Eris COVID Chart