What is new Covid variant FLiRT, is it dangerous, and what are the symptoms?
Omicron's JN.1 lineage, is rapidly replacing the previous variant, Eris, in the US, the UK, New Zealand, and South Korea, according to experts. Variants KP.2 and KP 1.1, considered more infectious than previous Omicron variants, are causing concern. However, experts believe the symptoms remain the same. KP.2 has taken over the JN.1 variant in the US.
Health authorities note that even though the cases of hospitalization are low, the number of infections is expected to rise as temperatures rise across the country.
What is New Covid-19 Variant FLiRT?
FLiRT is based on the technical names for the mutations of the virus, one of which includes the letters F and L, and another of which includes the letters R and T. Scientists say that within this group of variants, the most concern is over KP.2.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KP.2 has accounted for around 25 per cent of new sequenced cases in the last two weeks, across the US. However, it has still not become as widespread in the country.
How dangerous is Covid FLiRT Variant?
According to experts, efforts are still on to understand whether FLiRT is as contagious and deadly as its predecessors — increasing the number of infections and hospitalizations. FLiRT also has some concerning features — like changes in the spike protein, which play an important role in helping SARS-CoV-2 take hold, colonize the body, and make people sick.
Officials say most people are vulnerable as only 22 per cent of American adults have gotten the latest
