It’s been over four years since the global outbreak of COVID-19 and while many are under the assumption that the pandemic is over, it’s important to remain vigilant. Case-in-point: a new family of COVID-19 variants — FLiRT COVID — are currently making the rounds. These two variants, KP.1.1 and KP.2, together make up around 33% of new COVID-19 cases. These variants may have the capacity to spread more easily than older variants. While the news is troubling, there is no need to panic. Here is everything we know so far these new COVID-19 variants and ways you can stay safe.
What are the new FLiRT COVID variants?
FLiRT is a family of omicron variant JN.1 offshoots consisting of the KP.1.1 and KP.2 variants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), KP.2 is responsible for around 25% of new COVID-19 infections while KP.1.1 is responsible for about 7.5%.
There is research that suggests that the FLiRT variants spread more readily due to a mutation in the spike proteins responsible for transmission. This is a common occurrence for COVID-19 variants, which mutate to better evade immunity.
What are symptoms of the new FLiRT COVID variants?
As of this writing, symptoms of the FLiRT COVID variants do not appear to differ from those of other variants. These symptoms include:
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Fever or chills
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Cough
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Sore throat
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Congestion or runny nose
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Headache
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Muscle aches
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Difficulty breathing
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Fatigue
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New loss of taste or smell
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“Brain fog”…
