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New Virus Strain On The Rise

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a rise in certain FLiRT COVID-19 variants across the United States. However, health officials emphasize that there is currently no cause for significant concern.

The most prevalent variant, KP.2, accounted for over 28% of new infections in the past fortnight, marking an increase from approximately 20% in the preceding two weeks. Another FLiRT variant, KP.3, a descendant of JN.1, was responsible for nearly 13% of new cases, up from around 8% in the previous estimate. Combined, KP.2 and KP.3 contributed to over 40% of recent infections.

Despite the emergence of these variants, they do not exhibit any new or unique symptoms distinct from typical COVID-19 manifestations, including fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against these strains. However, vaccine uptake for the latest updated shot has been lower than anticipated, with less than 23% of adults receiving it, according to CDC data.

The FLiRT COVID-19 variants, named for their mutations, have garnered attention from the World Health Organization (WHO), which designated both KP.2 and KP.3 as “variants under monitoring.” This classification prompts intensified surveillance and investigation by public health authorities to assess any potential threats to global public health.

Globally, KP.2 and KP.3 are also experiencing increased prevalence, as reported by the WHO. Nevertheless, these variants have not led to a surge in COVID-19-related metrics such as deaths or hospitalizations in the United States. Hospitalizations have recently reached their lowest levels since the onset of the pandemic, and national wastewater viral activity is currently categorized as “minimal” by the CDC, indicating a low prevalence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections.

CDC officials note that while KP.2 is the predominant variant in the U.S., it does not appear to be driving a significant increase in COVID-19 infections or severity compared to other variants. Discussions among CDC vaccine advisers scheduled for June will likely focus on the next round of COVID-19 vaccinations and which strain(s) to target.