New COVID Sub-Mutant EG.5 Found in Qatar

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) of Qatar announced on August 31, 2023 that it has detected limited cases of the new COVID sub-mutant EG.5. The cases were reported in people who had recently traveled to Qatar, but the MoPH said that it is also investigating the possibility that the cases were locally transmitted.

EG.5 is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant, which is the dominant strain of COVID-19 worldwide. It is thought to be more transmissible than previous versions of Omicron, but it is not yet clear how severe it is. The MoPH said that the cases of EG.5 in Qatar have been mild, and that none of the patients have required hospitalization.

The MoPH is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, the MoPH is urging people to continue to follow the COVID-19 prevention measures, such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and getting vaccinated and boosted.

Here are some additional details about the EG.5 sub-variant:

• It was first identified in the United States in January 2023.
• It has been reported in more than 50 countries, including Qatar.
• It is thought to be more transmissible than previous versions of Omicron.
• It is not yet clear how severe it is.
• The MoPH of Qatar has said that the cases of EG.5 in the country have been mild.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet classified EG.5 as a variant of concern, but it is under monitoring. The WHO will provide an update on the status of EG.5 in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest information about EG.5 and other COVID-19 variants. You can do this by following the WHO website and the MoPH of Qatar website. You can also get updates from your local health authorities.

By following the COVID-19 prevention measures, you can help protect yourself and others from the virus.