The new COVID-19 variant EG.5 has become the dominant strain in the United States and is making its way to Canada. The fast-spreading variant, first detected in February, has been behind upticks in the coronavirus across North America, and also has been detected in China, South Korea and Japan, among other countries.
Which symptoms are associated with EG.5? Officials say that symptoms of the EG.5 have been consistent with general COVID-19 symptoms, which include sore throat, fever or chills, runny nose, shortness of breath, muscle or body aches, headaches or new loss of smell or taste. In the United States, EG.5 is already the most common subvariant. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, EG.5 accounts for around 17.3 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in a two-week period ending August 5.
The lack of widespread general public testing in Canada makes it difficult to know exactly how many cases of EG.5 there are currently. But according to sequencing by Public Health Ontario, XBB.1.5 is still the most prevalent subvariant in that province, while the proportion of EG.5 is increasing. Of the 245 samples sequenced between July 9 to July 15, EG.5 accounted for 12.7 per cent, an increase from 5.2 per cent the previous week. The agency expected that number to increase to 30.
Will the new boosters work against EG.5? The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending Canadians who have gone more than six months without a COVID-19 shot or infection should get a booster with a new formulation of the vaccine this fall.