Scientists have identified a group of COVID variants called “FLiRT,” raising new concerns about a potential summer wave of infections amid increased travel and gatherings.
The KP.2 variant has rapidly become the dominant strain in the U.S., accounting for around 28% of COVID-19 cases. Symptoms include coughing, fever, headaches and muscle aches. However, Dr. Priya Sampathkumar from the Mayo Clinic notes that while these variants may be more transmissible, they don’t appear to cause more severe illness.
“The WHO recommended that the JN.1 strain be the basis of the vaccine,” said Sampathkumar. “But now in the U.S., they’re reconsidering whether that would be the case or whether they would need to focus on this newly mutated strain instead.”
To protect against these variants, basic measures like handwashing, masking in crowded places and staying home when sick remain crucial. Additionally, Johns Hopkins experts suggest that antiviral medications are still effective against these variants, particularly for those at high risk of severe illness.
