Understanding Symptoms of New COVID-19 Variants Like Omicron and Eris

Understanding New COVID-19 Variants and Their Symptoms

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its third year, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge. Some of these new variants, like Omicron and its subvariants, have caused major surges in cases due to their increased transmissibility and ability to evade immunity.

While the core symptoms of COVID-19 typically include fever, cough, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell, some new variants may present with their own unique set of symptoms. Understanding the latest developments can help individuals stay vigilant about their health and know when to get tested or seek treatment.

Omicron Subvariants Like BA.5

Currently, Omicron subvariants like BA.5 are dominating across the world. Research indicates that BA.5 in particular is extremely transmissible and capable of causing breakthrough infections in vaccinated and previously infected people.

In terms of symptoms, BA.5 presents much like the original Omicron variant. According to recent studies, the most commonly reported initial symptoms are:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Fatigue (mild or moderate)
• Sneezing
• Persistent cough (usually dry)

So while fever, cough, and loss of smell continue to manifest sometimes, other cold-like symptoms seem to be more prominent indicators of BA.5 specifically. Still, any combination of the common COVID-19 symptoms is possible.

Monitoring Symptoms Closely

Regardless of variant, COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes vary from person to person based on factors like vaccination status, age, and underlying health conditions. Doctors recommend paying close attention to your symptoms and how they progress over days before determining next steps.

For example, if cold-like symptoms advance to difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face, mental confusion or inability to wake up, then urgent medical care should be sought. Keeping track of your symptom timeline can help healthcare providers assess how to properly treat your case.

Current Situation With Eris Variant

Alongside Omicron subvariants, another variant named Eris has been detected at low to moderate levels across some parts of the world. Here is more about its symptom profile and growth patterns so far:

Eris Symptoms

Evidence indicates that the array of symptoms caused by Eris are nearly identical to earlier variants like Delta. The CDC lists the following COVID-19 symptoms as most commonly reported since the start:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Therefore, being on the lookout for these persisting indicators can help identify an Eris infection. Again, any combination of these symptoms may manifest over the typical 2-14 day incubation period.

Eris Growth Patterns

When it comes to spread, research indicates that Eris is moderately more transmissible than older variants besides Omicron. So while it can still spread easily compared to the original virus, it has not caused the same explosive growth that made Omicron so disruptive.

Still, experts say not to discount Eris yet. It is slowly increasing as a percentage of overall cases across affected regions. Continued containment efforts and vaccination campaigns remain vital to preventing further acceleration.

Long-Term Outlook With Continued Vaccination

As troubling as emerging variants like Eris may seem, vaccination remains a key difference maker when assessing the long-term trajectory of the pandemic and return to normalcy.

Comparatively Mild Symptoms

In particular, studies consistently show that vaccinated individuals tend to face milder courses of illness and symptoms compared to the unvaccinated, especially when hospitalization and death are assessed. For example, with Omicron:

• Unvaccinated individuals were 5 times more likely to be hospitalized than the vaccinated.
• Unvaccinated individuals were 14 times more likely to die compared to receiving at least a primary series of any vaccination.

Additionally, vaccines appear to retain decent effectiveness against severe outcomes like hospitalization and death even as more variants emerge capable of causing breakthrough infections.

Therefore, staying up to date with the recommended number of vaccine doses can minimize occurrence of severe COVID-19 symptoms if infected with the inevitable appearance of new variants over time.

Cautious Optimism Moving Forward

As research continues, there is hope on the horizon that COVID-19 could transition into a more manageable respiratory infection as immunity builds up population-wide. But variants remain a wild card in getting to that point in the near future.

Experts say that variants like Eris and further undiscovered ones demonstrate that COVID still has room for evolution and persistence. As such, vaccinations and smart containment policies will remain crucial in the months ahead to counter impacts from increased transmission potential.

Still, the world knows much more about stopping spread now compared to 2020. Caution coupled with adapting to emerging variant behavior will hopefully balance COVID's inevitable circulation against a glide path back to normalcy.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.