LONDON: The Ministry of Health in England has announced that a new Covid variant known as Eris (EG 5.1) is spreading widely in Britain and health workers are on alert. It has been found that one in seven cases of Covid-19 reported in Britain are caused by Eris.

The new variant was identified on July 31. The World Organization has advised the countries to be cautious and follow the code of conduct for Covid. Of the 4,396 samples reported through the UK's Respiratory DataMart system, 5.4 per cent tested positive for Covid-19. Hospitalization rate of Covid patients have increased from 1.17 percent to 1.97 percent. At present, health experts have informed that one out of seven new Covid cases is Eris variant.

The EG5 variant is also in the list of Covid variants monitored by the World Health Organization. This variant is currently reported to be found in 45 countries. Symptoms include cold, headache and fever. Other causes are bad weather and reduced immunity.

The primary preventive measures are to keep hands clean and get tested immediately if symptoms appear.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO is monitoring the evolution of the virus and that current vaccinations are sufficient.