The Eris variant, which has become the dominant variant in America and Europe, has also started to be observed in Turkey, according to data announced by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. While the symptoms of the Eris variant bear similarities to other mutations, it is often associated with symptoms such as headaches, dry cough, runny nose, and joint pain.
The Eris variant, recognized as a subtype of the omicron variant, has been observed in dozens of countries, including Turkey. In a letter sent last Thursday to relevant departments and chief medical officers, the Health Services Unit of Ankara Hacettepe University stated, "The positivity rate in SARS-COV-2 PCR (Coronavirus) tests conducted in our hospital in the last 24 hours has reached from 3% to 20%," reminding personnel, patients, and their relatives of the mask requirement.
Speaking about the Eris variant, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, "Turkey has its own program, and we do not start a vaccination program just because someone wants it."
WHAT IS THE ERIS VARIANT?
The Eris variant, identified as a subtype of the omicron variant and named after a goddess in Greek mythology, is a virus with a mutation called EG.5.1. This mutation may assist the Eris variant in binding to and replicating in human cells more easily.
The Eris variant, which began affecting the world on February 17, 2023, is known to be a subvariant of omicron first observed at the end of 2021.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the Initial Risk Assessment conducted on August 9, 2023, EG.5 and its subtypes were identified as a Variant Of Interest (VOI), and health authorities were advised to closely monitor its transmission.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ERIS VARIANT?
Symptoms of the Eris variant
Sore throat
Cough
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Altered sense of smell
Headache
Sneezing
Hoarseness
Fever
The English media made a statement regarding the increasing cases of the Eris variant in the country. According to data obtained by the UK-based ZOE Health Research Group, the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are currently listed. Among the prominent signs of the disease are nasal congestion or runny nose, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sneezing.
However, the British Mirror newspaper drew attention to some "unusual symptoms" spreading among patients.
HERE ARE THE UNNOTICED SYMPTOMS
The Mirror newspaper, sharing these symptoms that many people may not know or notice, listed them as follows:
Skin rash
Changes in the mouth or tongue – such as swelling in the mouth and ulcers on the tongue or the inner surface of the mouth and lips
Red and painful fingers or toes
Diarrhea
Hoarse voice
Itchy or red eyes
ERIS VARIANT HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
The Eris variant, like other COVID-19 variants, spreads through respiratory droplets. These droplets are released into the air when a person sneezes or coughs and can be transmitted by another person breathing them in or touching their eyes or nose.
IS THE ERIS VARIANT CONTAGIOUS?
It is believed that the Eris variant is more contagious than other COVID-19 variants. However, the extent of its contagiousness has not yet been fully understood.
HAS THE ERIS VARIANT BEEN OBSERVED IN TURKEY?
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca made a statement on social media changing the agenda.
Koca announced that the Eris variant has been detected in Turkey:
"The Eris variant, whose low virulence we know, was found in the examination conducted in our Reference Laboratory in 9 people. They have foreign contacts and are from the same province. We will continue with our current measures and daily life. It was expected to emerge in other countries, and it was likely to occur in us as well. We will protect our elders and chronically ill patients."
WILL VACCINATION BE MANDATORY FOR THE ERIS VARIANT?
Answering questions from journalists after the Cabinet Meeting regarding the current situation of the Eris variant, Koca said:
"We witness that some countries try to set an example by succumbing to vaccine pressure. However, succumbing to the vaccine pressure of some countries does not mean that we will succumb to vaccine pressure. It is not possible for us to succumb to the global Covid vaccine pressure. Turkey has its own program, and we do not start a vaccination program just because someone wants it. We are implementing our own program, and we currently do not consider implementing a new vaccination program for Covid-19. That's as clear as it gets."
"RESTRICTIONS AND LOCKDOWNS ARE NOT ON THE TABLE"
Koca also used the following expressions regarding whether there is an increase in the number of patients:
"As you know, the virulence of the Eris variant, meaning its ability to cause illness, is lower, but its infectivity is higher. We can say that the number of patients has increased during this period. However, hospitalization rates are quite low. It does not cause severe illness. It runs a milder course.
Covid-19 has turned into an upper respiratory tract infection like a cold and flu. This was an expected course. There is no need to panic. Restrictions and lockdowns reminiscent of the old period are not on the table. So, what do we need to do to protect ourselves?
Now all our citizens know; those who are sick need to isolate themselves and not go out into society. We recommend that those who are at risk especially protect themselves, stay away from crowded places, and if necessary, use masks in those situations.
So, there is absolutely no need for a mass vaccination program. However, we emphasize the importance of the flu vaccine during this period. We recommend that those in the risk groups, for whom flu vaccines are defined, get vaccinated as soon as possible. Flu vaccines are administered free of charge to those identified in the risky group."
"WE PRIORITIZE LOCALIZING ALL OUR VACCINES"
Koca also emphasized that they closely follow the childhood vaccination program with sensitivity and importance, stating, "Our citizens should be sensitive about this, and our children should have their vaccines in the immunization program. Our construction of the Hıfzıssıhha Vaccine and Biotechnological Product Research and Production Infrastructure, which we activated to produce our vaccines, is ongoing. We prioritize localizing all our vaccines. Also, the process of technology transfer for the three vaccines we announced earlier has started; we especially emphasize the production of the chickenpox, rabies, and Hepatitis A vaccines for our children."
(DHA)
The Eris variant, recognized as a subtype of the omicron variant, has been observed in dozens of countries, including Turkey. In a letter sent last Thursday to relevant departments and chief medical officers, the Health Services Unit of Ankara Hacettepe University stated, "The positivity rate in SARS-COV-2 PCR (Coronavirus) tests conducted in our hospital in the last 24 hours has reached from 3% to 20%," reminding personnel, patients, and their relatives of the mask requirement.
Speaking about the Eris variant, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, "Turkey has its own program, and we do not start a vaccination program just because someone wants it."
WHAT IS THE ERIS VARIANT?
The Eris variant, identified as a subtype of the omicron variant and named after a goddess in Greek mythology, is a virus with a mutation called EG.5.1. This mutation may assist the Eris variant in binding to and replicating in human cells more easily.
The Eris variant, which began affecting the world on February 17, 2023, is known to be a subvariant of omicron first observed at the end of 2021.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the Initial Risk Assessment conducted on August 9, 2023, EG.5 and its subtypes were identified as a Variant Of Interest (VOI), and health authorities were advised to closely monitor its transmission.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ERIS VARIANT?
Symptoms of the Eris variant
Sore throat
Cough
Nasal congestion or runny nose
Altered sense of smell
Headache
Sneezing
Hoarseness
Fever
The English media made a statement regarding the increasing cases of the Eris variant in the country. According to data obtained by the UK-based ZOE Health Research Group, the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are currently listed. Among the prominent signs of the disease are nasal congestion or runny nose, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and sneezing.
However, the British Mirror newspaper drew attention to some "unusual symptoms" spreading among patients.
HERE ARE THE UNNOTICED SYMPTOMS
The Mirror newspaper, sharing these symptoms that many people may not know or notice, listed them as follows:
Skin rash
Changes in the mouth or tongue – such as swelling in the mouth and ulcers on the tongue or the inner surface of the mouth and lips
Red and painful fingers or toes
Diarrhea
Hoarse voice
Itchy or red eyes
ERIS VARIANT HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
The Eris variant, like other COVID-19 variants, spreads through respiratory droplets. These droplets are released into the air when a person sneezes or coughs and can be transmitted by another person breathing them in or touching their eyes or nose.
IS THE ERIS VARIANT CONTAGIOUS?
It is believed that the Eris variant is more contagious than other COVID-19 variants. However, the extent of its contagiousness has not yet been fully understood.
HAS THE ERIS VARIANT BEEN OBSERVED IN TURKEY?
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca made a statement on social media changing the agenda.
Koca announced that the Eris variant has been detected in Turkey:
"The Eris variant, whose low virulence we know, was found in the examination conducted in our Reference Laboratory in 9 people. They have foreign contacts and are from the same province. We will continue with our current measures and daily life. It was expected to emerge in other countries, and it was likely to occur in us as well. We will protect our elders and chronically ill patients."
WILL VACCINATION BE MANDATORY FOR THE ERIS VARIANT?
Answering questions from journalists after the Cabinet Meeting regarding the current situation of the Eris variant, Koca said:
"We witness that some countries try to set an example by succumbing to vaccine pressure. However, succumbing to the vaccine pressure of some countries does not mean that we will succumb to vaccine pressure. It is not possible for us to succumb to the global Covid vaccine pressure. Turkey has its own program, and we do not start a vaccination program just because someone wants it. We are implementing our own program, and we currently do not consider implementing a new vaccination program for Covid-19. That's as clear as it gets."
"RESTRICTIONS AND LOCKDOWNS ARE NOT ON THE TABLE"
Koca also used the following expressions regarding whether there is an increase in the number of patients:
"As you know, the virulence of the Eris variant, meaning its ability to cause illness, is lower, but its infectivity is higher. We can say that the number of patients has increased during this period. However, hospitalization rates are quite low. It does not cause severe illness. It runs a milder course.
Covid-19 has turned into an upper respiratory tract infection like a cold and flu. This was an expected course. There is no need to panic. Restrictions and lockdowns reminiscent of the old period are not on the table. So, what do we need to do to protect ourselves?
Now all our citizens know; those who are sick need to isolate themselves and not go out into society. We recommend that those who are at risk especially protect themselves, stay away from crowded places, and if necessary, use masks in those situations.
So, there is absolutely no need for a mass vaccination program. However, we emphasize the importance of the flu vaccine during this period. We recommend that those in the risk groups, for whom flu vaccines are defined, get vaccinated as soon as possible. Flu vaccines are administered free of charge to those identified in the risky group."
"WE PRIORITIZE LOCALIZING ALL OUR VACCINES"
Koca also emphasized that they closely follow the childhood vaccination program with sensitivity and importance, stating, "Our citizens should be sensitive about this, and our children should have their vaccines in the immunization program. Our construction of the Hıfzıssıhha Vaccine and Biotechnological Product Research and Production Infrastructure, which we activated to produce our vaccines, is ongoing. We prioritize localizing all our vaccines. Also, the process of technology transfer for the three vaccines we announced earlier has started; we especially emphasize the production of the chickenpox, rabies, and Hepatitis A vaccines for our children."
(DHA)
