The emergence of new coronavirus variants, called FLiRT variants, is causing concern among experts as they become dominant in the U.S. Evidence suggests these variants may be highly transmissible, raising fears of a potential summer surge as more Americans gather for holidays.
These FLiRT variants are descendants of the JN.1 variant, which is a branch off the omicron variant that was prevalent in the U.S. in late 2021 and early 2022. The new variants have additional mutations on their spike proteins, which may allow them to evade immunity, according to experts at Yale Medicine.
One FLiRT variant, KP.2, has become the dominant strain in the U.S., accounting for 28.2% of cases in a two-week period ending in May 11. Another variant, KP.1.1, made up over 7% of cases during the same period, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts are concerned that the FLiRT variants could lead to a spike in cases as more people gather for summer holidays. Despite a decrease in overall cases and deaths in the U.S., hospitalizations have risen by over 9% since March.
There is no evidence to suggest that the symptoms caused by the FLiRT variants are different or more severe than those caused by previous strains of COVID-19. Common symptoms include respiratory issues, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell.
Experts believe that the current COVID-19 vaccines, which target the omicron strain, should offer some protection against the FLiRT variants. The FDA’s vaccine advisory committee has postponed a meeting to discuss new recommendations until June 5 to allow for additional surveillance data. The World Health Organization has encouraged the development of new vaccines focusing on the JN.1 lineage, which may provide additional protection against these variants.
