- According to the WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused 693.5 million cases and 6.9 million deaths globally.
- The first two cases of Variant EG.5.1 in Mexico were corroborated by Inmegen and correspond to inhabitants of CDMX.
- Currently, this sublineage has been identified in at least 50 countries due to its high level of transmission.
The situation regarding the pandemic is in a moment of relative calm. In recent months, the lowest numbers of infections and deaths have been achieved since the start of the health emergency. On the other hand, now the biggest concern is the appearance of the new Variant EG.5.1, also known as Eris, which has just been identified for the first time in Mexico.
First of all, it is necessary to talk about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for causing the disease known as Covid-19. According to the updated count of the World Health Organization (WHO), until August 13 there have been registered 693.5 million cases and 6.9 million deaths globally.
Now, one of the characteristics of viruses is their tendency to mutate by internally changing their structure. For the same reason, some are difficult to control and Not only is the development of a specific vaccine required, but it must also be updated periodically.
One of the clearest examples can be seen with influenza because its immunization is renewed annually. Each dose is different from the last, and the goal is to offer people as much protection as possible.
Variant EG.5.1 (Eris) continues to expand
For its part, from 2022 the Omicron variant became the most prevalent globally. While now, the sublineage EG.5.1 (Eris) it has become the new enemy to defeat.
For months it has shown exponential growth in the United Kingdom and the United States. While at present it has already been identified in at least 50 countries due to its high level of transmission.
Variant EG.5.1 is detected for the first time in Mexico
On the other hand, according to information published in Millennium, the first two cases of this variant have already been detected in our country. Based on the analyzes carried out by the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (Inmegen) both cases correspond to citizens of Mexico City.
Eris, the new variant of COVID-19 is detected in Mexico. 🦠 Two cases have been confirmed ⚕️👇🏽https://t.co/c9ZLEqtQw9
— dna40 (@dna40) August 14, 2023
The first is a 49-year-old woman with no foreign travel history. While the other corresponds to a 63-year-old man. Both are reported stable and are already receiving the corresponding medical attention.
On the other hand, according to the reviews carried out in the United Kingdom, the 10 main symptoms generated by Variant EG.5.1.
- Sore throat.
- runny nose
- Nasal congestion.
- sneezing.
- Dry cough.
- Headache.
- wet cough
- Hoarsely.
- Muscle pains.
- Smell disturbance.
Finally, various authorities have indicated that despite the cases of the Variant EG.5.1 detected in MexicoNow is not the time to generate unnecessary alarms. The probability of returning to situations like those experienced in 2020 and 2021 are minimal.
Although the truth is that the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has indicated that in closed environments the use of face masks is recommended. While according to the Ministry of Health (SSa), during the fall a new reinforcement dose will be applied to the entire national population.
Also read:
Variant EG.5.1 (Eris) could replace Omicron: These are its symptoms
The pandemics that have caused the most deaths in history
WHO updates list of pathogens that could cause new pandemics: From Ebola to Disease X