Miami, Florida – With the arrival of warmer weather, a new set of COVID-19 variants known as FLiRT has been identified in wastewater surveillance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC reported on Wednesday that the FLiRT variants have been detected in wastewater sampling. From April 14 to April 27, FLiRT accounted for approximately 25% of cases in the United States, making up about 1 in 4 Covid cases in the country, the CDC revealed.
The rapid spread of FLiRT over a two-week period has made it the dominant variant in the United States, surpassing JN.1, the variant that had spread worldwide during the winter months, as per CDC studies.
The FLiRT variants, KP.2 and KP.1.1, are part of the Omicron family and are descendants of JN.1.11.1, a variant that was prevalent before the emergence of the new FLiRT variants, according to Prevention.
Although limited information is available about the FLiRT variants, research has identified some changes in KP.2’s spike protein compared to JN.1, which is crucial for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Symptoms of COVID-19 FLiRT can vary, as is the case with new variants spreading, according to the CDC.
While COVID-19 tests may not specify which variant is responsible for an infection, genomic sequencing can help determine which variant caused the infection, Nebraska Med explains.
Staying updated on booster shots can offer protection against the FLiRT variant, alongside other measures such as opting for outdoor activities, avoiding high-risk settings, frequent handwashing, maintaining physical distance, wearing masks in public, and staying home when sick. Additionally, individuals vulnerable to infection may benefit from the monoclonal antibody Pemgarda, a preventive treatment for those moderately to severely immunocompromised, approved for emergency use by the FDA in March, as reported by WebMD.