COVID-19 EG.5 Risk Assessment – 18 August 2023

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2023, COVID-19 EG.5 is a variant of interest (VOI) of XBB.1.9.2, with an additional F456L amino acid mutation in the spike protein. It was first reported on February 17, 2023, and designated as a variant under monitoring (VUM) on July 19, 2023. EG.5 and its sub-lineages have a global prevalence of 17.4%, a significant increase from the previous week’s 7.6%. The public health risk posed by EG.5 is evaluated as low at the global level, aligning with the risk associated with XBB.1.16 and other circulating VOIs. Despite increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity. The WHO and its Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Evolution recommend Member States prioritize specific actions to better address uncertainties relating to antibody escape and severity of EG.5. The recommended timelines are estimates and will vary depending on national capacities. The WHO and its Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition regularly assess the impact of variants on the performance of COVID-19 vaccines to inform decisions on vaccine composition updates.