Eris sub-variant of Covid-19 surge in France linked to holiday season

The French Public Health Agency has revealed that Eris cases are on the rise across all regions, with the most substantial increase reported in popular vacation destinations.

Amidst a recent escalation in suspected Covid-19 hospitalizations, the agency's official statement has drawn attention to a significant 25 percent surge in suspected Covid-19 cases among individuals aged 15 to 74 in comparison to the preceding week. Furthermore, the escalation is even more pronounced in higher age groups, with a 34 percent rise observed in those aged 75 and older, and a staggering 56 percent surge in cases concerning infants under two years old.

Particularly noteworthy is the surge's concentration within holiday regions. Nouvelle Aquitaine has reported the highest count of positive cases, revealing that 789 individuals tested positive out of the PCR tests conducted between July 31 and August 6. Occitanie follows with 730 positive cases, while Ile-de-France, housing the capital city Paris, has documented 689 cases. Additionally, the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region has recorded 638 positive cases.

The upswing in Eris transmission is believed to be closely tied to social gatherings at festivals and other events in vacation spots. These gatherings have enabled increased social interactions, potentially contributing to the propagation of this sub-variant. More notably, over one-third of the fresh cases are suspected to be connected to Eris, which is a sub-derivative of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Despite ongoing concerns surrounding the proliferation of Eris, the World Health Organization (WHO) has shed light on the variant. The WHO's report on August 9 highlighted a consistent rise in the prevalence of Eris. Formerly categorized as a "variant under observation," Eris' status has been elevated to "variant to be monitored." Notably, over 7,000 samples from 51 countries were shared for comprehensive analysis as of August 7.

While the global public health risk attributed to Eris remains relatively low, akin to that of other existing Covid-19 variants, experts underline the potential for Eris to spread internationally and contribute to a surge in cases due to its unique characteristics. (ILKHA)