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There are currently several COVID variants that share the same “mutation set” and are called FLiRT.
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KP.3 — this comes from the JN.1 strain – is now the predominant variant and accounts for 37% of cases.
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The symptoms are similar to those of other COVID strains. If you are sick and have a chronic cough, high fever, sore throat or runny nose, you should get a COVID-19 test to make sure you are not contagious.
The COVID-19 variant FLiRT continues to dominate the infection charts.
The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published on July 6, showed that FLiRT is spreading rapidly in the United States. The CDC estimates that KP.3 currently accounts for 36.9% of cases, while KP.2 accounts for 24.4% of current COVID infections.
“The FLiRT variant appeared in March,” says Tammy Lundstrom, MD, JD, senior vice president at Trinity Health WHO led its COVID-19 response“Throughout the COVID-19 era, new strains have continued to emerge. Like other strains, it appears to be highly contagious, but at this time it does not appear to be more virulent.”
But with only 22.5% of American adults having received a COVID-19 vaccine since September 2023, according to the latest data, the question is what this means for COVID-19 infections in the summer and beyond. We spoke to experts to explain the new variant, what symptoms to look out for, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the latest SARS-CoV-2 virus variant.
What is the FLiRT variant?
As funny as the name sounds, FLiRT is not the official name for the dominant COVID-19 variant. It is actually a cheeky nickname for a whole family of different variants (all that start with KP or JN). “The FLiRT variants came to the fore at the end of April,” says Nikhil K. BhayaniMD, FIDSA, infectious disease specialist and assistant professor at the Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University.
KP.2 and KP.3 are the official names of the variants that have replaced JN.1 as the dominant strain. However, the FLiRT variants are all descendants of the JN.1 variant – meaning that the “parent” variant (JN.1) is being displaced by several “child” variants. Although KP.3 and KP.2 are now the dominant strains of COVID-19, various variations of JN.1 are still circulating in some capacity.
What are the symptoms?
The good news is that KP.3 and KP.2 do not seem to cause any surprising symptoms. “The symptoms are similar to those of other COVID-19 strains,” says Dr. Lundstrom. The CDC has updated its list of possible symptoms in March, and these include:
“As with similar newer varieties, loss of taste and smell is not as common,” adds Lundstrom.
Should we be afraid of a summer wave?
Wastewater viral activity for COVID-19 – the CDC’s way of tracking infectious diseases circulating in a community – is currently classified as “low.” according to the latest CDC data.
Dr. Lundstrom says that “there is concern that this new variant could cause a surge in cases in the summer,” noting that “we have seen a surge in infections in the summer throughout the COVID-19 era.” And currently, KP.3 appears to be “very contagious and currently spreading.”
Is there a new vaccine?
Our experts said vaccines still provide good protection against COVID-19, “especially against severe disease and hospitalization,” says Dr. Lundstrom. Study published in April found that KP.2 exhibits “the most significant resistance” to the 2023-24 COVID-19 booster vaccination and that this “enhanced immune resistance capacity of KP.2 partly contributes to the higher “prevalence of infection” than previous variants, including JN.1.”
In late June, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older receive the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, which has been adapted based on the most common variants circulating this year. The most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be rolled out this fall. “The World Health Organization recommends that the upcoming COVID booster shot be based on the prevailing lineage for the year,” adds Dr. Bhayani.
However, the CDC and our experts continue to recommend the current vaccine to protect yourself before the 2024-25 booster shot becomes available in the fall. “Adults over 65 should get the last available COVID-19 vaccine,” Bhayani says. Dr. Lundstrom suggests that older adults “should be vaccinated four months after their last vaccination” and those with weakened immune systems “should be vaccinated two months after their last dose.”
How to protect yourself
In March CDC has updated guidelines on respiratory viruses as COVID-19 cases have declined over time. “It is still an important health threat, but it is no longer the emergency it once was, and its health impacts are increasingly similar to those of other viral respiratory diseases, including influenza and RSV,” the new guidelines say.
“The same precautions help prevent the spread of most respiratory viruses: washing hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing/coughing, staying up to date with vaccinations, and staying home when sick to prevent spreading to others,” recommends Dr. Lundstrom. However, Dr. Bhayani reminds us that older people, those with weakened immune systems, and children “should take additional precautions, such as avoiding large crowds and wearing masks, if the number of COVID-19 cases increases locally.”
If you do get sick, the CDC still recommends staying home until your overall symptoms improve and you don’t have a fever (and aren’t taking fever-reducing medications). After that, you can resume your normal activities and “use additional prevention strategies for the next five days.”
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