What to Know About Subvariant EG.5

• EG.5, unofficially named "Eris," is a sub-variant and descendant of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
• According to CDC data, EG.5 has become the most widely circulating coronavirus strain in the U.S.
• The emergence of the EG.5 variant may cause an increase in new cases of COVID-19, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease.
• The symptoms for EG.5 remain common to the coronavirus in general. These may include cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, and headaches.
• EG.5 is part of the XBB family of variants.
• Updated vaccines targeting XBB variants will arrive this fall.