New Covid variant Eris is reminder to monitor virus data, US experts say

Variant is anticipated evolution but exact scope of virus is difficult to discern because of limited surveillance, experts say

A new Covid-19 variant has become the dominant lineage of the virus in recent weeks in the US and while it should not be a cause of undue concern for the public, its emergence is a reminder of the need for greater surveillance of the virus and of the importance of vaccine boosters, according to infectious disease experts.

EG.5.1, an Omicron subvariant also known as Eris, is the leading version of the virus and makes up about 17% of Covid cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its rise coincides with a recent uptick in the number of hospitalizations due to Covid.