There's a new highly transmissible COVID-19 variant. Could FLiRT lead to a summer uptick?

  • 📰 latimes
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 20 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 11%
  • Publisher: 82%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

In years past, summer travel and gatherings have spurred surges in coronavirus infections. As immunity wanes for those who received the most recent vaccine, experts urge caution.

Two new COVID-19 subvariants, collectively nicknamed FLiRT, are increasingly edging out the winter's dominant strain ahead of a possible summer uptick in coronavirus infections. The new FLiRT subvariants, officially known as KP.2 and KP.1.1, are believed to be roughly 20% more transmissible than their parent, JN.1, the winter's dominant subvariant, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco.

It hasn't gone away,' Bronstein said. 'The good news is that the ... vaccine still is very good at protecting you against hospitalizations, severe outcomes and death.' Between October and April, more than 42,000 COVID-19 deaths were recorded nationally, according to the CDC. That's significantly larger than the estimated flu deaths over the same time: 24,000.

Source: Holiday News (holidaynews.net)

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 11. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

New ‘FLiRT’ Variants Spark Summer COVID Surge WarningA data scientist who has accurately predicted COVID waves since the beginning of the pandemic warns that a surge is on the horizon.
Source: WebMD - 🏆 709. / 51 Read more »

Common Symptoms of New COVID Variants in 2024, Aka FlirtCaroline Kee is a health reporter at TODAY based in New York City.
Source: TODAYshow - 🏆 389. / 55 Read more »

COVID-19 variants called FLiRT are spreading across USThe COVID-19 variants, nicknamed FLiRT, account for about one in four infections. Here's what to know.
Source: fox13seattle - 🏆 328. / 59 Read more »

FLiRT COVID-19 Variants Are Spreading: What to Know About KP.2 and KP.1.1 StrainsThere are so many different types of masks out there to protect us from COVID. What works best? How long can you wear them? Which ones are fake? Learn everything you need to know about COVID masks.
Source: PreventionMag - 🏆 141. / 63 Read more »

2 new COVID variants called 'FLiRT'are spreading in the U.S. What are the symptoms?Respiratory virus season may be ending in the United States, but a new group of COVID-19 variants are circulating, sparking concerns about a potential summer wa
Source: mynbc15 - 🏆 262. / 63 Read more »

COVID-19 variants called ‘FLiRT’ continue to spread across the US, CDC saysA new group of COVID-19 variants is spreading across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »