Eris is spreading: is the new corona variant underestimated in Switzerland?

From September 1, certificates can no longer be issued in Switzerland and the Covid apps will also be removed from the app stores. In Britain, on the other hand, protective masks are being worn again because the EG.5.1 omicron variant is making many Britons sick.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week upgraded the Eris strain as an “interesting variety.” EG.5 is now the predominant strain in the US and is responsible for a growing proportion of cases worldwide, especially in China. And behind Eris, the next variant is already approaching. The FL 1.5.1 omicron variant, nicknamed Fornax, is beginning to spread in parts of the United States.

“The subvariants of EG.5 carry new mutations that help evade acquired immunity,” said Simon Ming of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH. This is confirmed by Johannes Nemeth from the University Hospital Zurich: “There are certain indications that this variant is less well recognized by our immune system.”

In addition, the immunity of the population declines over time – both after vaccinations and after previous infections, says Ming. “These two factors could lead to an increase in infections in the coming weeks.”

The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) agrees. After months of very low infection rates, Covid-19 transmission has increased sharply in some European countries. On the one hand because of the reasons given by the BAG, but also because of the large crowds on holidays and because of “Barbenheimer”. The films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” filled cinema halls.

In Switzerland, the virus load in the wastewater of most sewage treatment plants is still at a low level. “But since mid-August, we have seen an upward trend,” says Ming about the current situation. The share of EG.5 was 20 to 40 percent in most wastewater treatment plants.

According to the BAG, EG.5 was first discovered in Switzerland in February 2023. The fast-growing variant and its bisecting lines have been observed more closely since the beginning of the summer. “There is currently no evidence that EG.5 causes more severe disease progression than the previous variants of Omikron,” says Ming. “This variant seems to have an advantage in terms of replication, but there are currently no indications of a higher disease burden,” says infectious disease specialist Nemeth of the University Hospital. So far there has been no increase in hospital admissions, not even at the University Hospital in Zurich.

The vaccine manufacturer Moderna, which is preparing for the autumn vaccination, is armed. For this purpose, the US company has produced an updated mRNA vaccine against variants EG.5 and FL.1.5.1. Clinical trial data show a significant increase in neutralizing antibodies against these variants. The robust immune response against Eris and Fornax meant the new vaccines could address the emerging Covid threats, said Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna. The company has applied for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and the European EMA. After approval, sufficient vaccine will be available in the autumn.

About vaccination, Johannes Nemeth says: “The WHO currently estimates the risk to the population to be low.” Regardless of the variant currently circulating, a healthy immune system and ideally pre-existing immunity is still very important. “For this reason, we continue to recommend vaccinations for at-risk populations,” says the Zurich-based infectious disease specialist. (aargauerzeitung.ch)