FLiRT Variant: A New COVID-19 Threat Emerges in the U.S. and Beyond
FLiRT, a newly emerged COVID-19 variant posing a threat in the United States, is derived from the Omicron JN.1 strain that circulated globally last winter.
According to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), the emergence of FLiRT variants has been associated with a rise in new cases and a slight increase in hospitalizations in the U.S.
Similar surges have been observed in the United Kingdom, South Korea, and New Zealand, sparking concerns about a potential resurgence of COVID-19.
The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has reported 238 cases of the KP.2 variant and 30 cases of the KP1.1 variant in India as of May 6th.
FLiRT symptoms closely resembling those of the JN.1 variant
Symptoms of FLiRT includes,
- fever or chills,
- persistent cough,
- sore throat,
- nasal congestion or runny nose,
- headache,
- muscle aches,
- difficulty breathing,
- fatigue,
- new loss of taste or smell,
- mental fog, and
- gastrointestinal issues such as upset stomach,
- mild diarrhea, and
- vomiting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stresses that this symptom list is not exhaustive and symptoms may vary among individuals and with new variants.
The CDC reports that only 22.6% of adults in the U.S. have received the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine since its availability in September 2023. Vaccination coverage is highest among older adults, particularly those aged 75 and above.
Regarding transmission, Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, a senior consultant in internal medicine at Gleneagles Hospitals Parel Mumbai, explained that FLiRT spreads through respiratory droplets emitted by infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces such as faucets, furniture, elevator buttons, and kitchen countertops, or by coming into close contact with an infected person.
Thanks
Be Safe!