Health
First Case of COVID-19 EG-5 Variant Detected in South Africa
The National Department of Health has officially announced the detection of the first case of the COVID-19 EG-5 variant in SA. According to SABC News, this revelation comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified Eris as a new variation of interest in the ongoing battle against the pandemic.
Although WHO has reassured that this variant is not a cause for undue concern, it can potentially lead to a surge in infections. The Department of Health shared with SABC News that it identified the positive case in a sample taken from the Gauteng province.
Also read: Assessing South Africa’s Preparedness for Disasters
As global COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations continue to witness an uptick in the United States, Europe, and Asia, the emergence of the Eris variant adds a new dimension to the ongoing pandemic response.
Eris is a subvariant of the Omicron lineage, initially emerging in November 2021. Like other COVID-19 variants, Eris is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat.
In response to this development, health authorities emphasise vaccination’s importance.
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