ve.
Another FLiRT variant, called KP.1.1, is also circulating in the U.S., but is less widespread than KP.2. It currently accounts for about 7.5% of infections nationwide, per the CDC. The nickname 'FLiRT" is based on the technical names for their mutations, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America.
KP.2 looks very similar to its parental strain JN.1, says Pekosz, which is highly contagious. "Except it has these two mutations. ... I think these two mutations together are making KP.2 a better virus in that it maintains its ability to transmit, but also now evades some of the pre-existing immunity in the population,” says Pekosz.
“It’s still really early in the emergence of KP.2, but I don’t think we need to sound the alarm bells as of yet,” says Ko.It's too soon to tell whether the FLiRT variants will cause a summer wave or surge, the experts note. However, it is clear that COVID-19 is still circulating and won't be taking any time off.
Wastewater data published by the CDC show that the viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently “minimal” — it was considered high or very high for most of January and February. The seasonality of COVID-19 is something scientists are still trying to understand. But one thing is obvious: “This virus is now integrating itself into our population and our way of life,” says Schaffner.
Similar to JN.1 and other omicron subvariants, the FLiRT variants seem to be causing milder infections, says Schaffer.
Flirt Variants KP.2 Infections Mutations U.S. Symptoms Vaccines
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