New Covid variant Eris takes hold in France as holidays help spread infections

A new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, known as Eris, could be linked to more than a third of new cases in France, Report informs via RFI.

Officially designated by the scientific name EG.5, the new strain has been detected in more than 50 countries.

It is becoming more prevalent in the US, China, the UK and now France, where it was identified in 34 percent of new positive samples submitted for genetic sequencing, according to global virus database Gisaid.

First reported in February, it is an offshoot of the Omicron variant that quickly became the dominant Covid strain in late 2021.

Eris is believed to be more transmissible than other strains of the virus circulating.

In France, the number of people seeking hospital treatment for suspected Covid has risen in recent days.

By Wednesday, the French public health institute reported, such cases were up by 25 percent among people aged 15 to 74 compared to the precious week, by 34 percent in over-74s and by 56 percent in children under two.

The spread could be linked to the summer holiday season, when people are more likely to travel and socialise, including in large crowds at festivals and other events.