Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have significantly increased in Irish hospitals during the past two weeks, rising from 222 to 400 positive results, as the latest variant, EG.5, called “Eris”, moves through the country.
According to Paul Moynagh, professor of immunology at Maynooth University, it is “to be expected” that the more infectious variant has caused a spike in cases, although he cautioned against alarm. “We have an endemic virus now,” he said.
While the new variant does appear to be more infectious, Moynagh said that it had not been linked to any increased severity of symptoms.
“Eris seems to have some advantage in terms of its ability to transmit,” he added. “But importantly, it doesn’t seem to be associated with any greater severity of serious
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