FLiRT, new coronavirus variants are spreading rapidly: it’s all about symptoms, severity | Parami News

The coronavirus is still among us, with two new variants recently discovered in the United States. The two variants are called “FLiRT” and include KP.2, which replaced Omicron’s JN.1 sub-variant in recent weeks. According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KP.2 is responsible for a quarter of infections nationwide.
another FLiRT variants KP.1.1 is also popular in the United States, but is not as widespread as KP.2.

Why is it called FLiRT?

The nickname “FLiRT” is the technical name based on its mutation, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reclassified it as a variant of interest and recommended close monitoring.
The FLiRT variant is a derivative of JN.1.11.1. They are part of the Omicron variant.

New COVID variant FLiRT symptoms

Experts say the symptoms of the new variant are similar to other Omicron subvariants, such as sore throat, cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, fever, and possible loss of taste and smell.

“The KP.2 variant (also known as JN.1.11.1.2) is a descendant of the JN.1 variant and contains multiple mutations associated with evasion of vaccine-mediated immune protection. Preliminary research (which has not yet been peer-reviewed) suggests that the U.S. The Infectious Diseases Society stated in the report that the estimated relative effective reproduction number of KP.2 (Re) may be 1.22 times higher than the Re of JN.1.

Should India be worried?

Rajeev Gupta, director of internal medicine at CK Birla Hospital, said FLiRT belongs to Omicron’s JN.1 lineage and is rapidly replacing the previous variant Eris in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Korea. “The recent rise in hospitalizations in these countries has been caused by this variant; however, it is still a relatively small wave. There is no increase in overall mortality,” he told news agency IANS.

“Fortunately, none of the Omicron lineages are capable of causing severe lung damage like the Delta strain, but only in the upper respiratory tract. Surveillance and vigilance should be maintained for significant drift of the virus,” said Dylan Gu, a pediatric critical care physician at Sir Ganga. Dhiren Gupta, Ram Hospital told IANS, adding that these new strains will continue to emerge.

How to stay safe?

COVID-19 prevention measures include practicing good hand hygiene, washing hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, wearing a mask in crowded or indoor settings, maintaining physical distance from others, avoiding large gatherings, and staying home if you feel sick Home. COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of infection, severe illness, and spread. Additionally, following public health guidelines, such as ventilating indoor spaces and regular testing, can help mitigate the spread of the virus. Combined, these measures provide a comprehensive approach to protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.