New COVID-19 variant now dominant, CDC says
A new set of COVID-19 variants, nicknamed FLiRT, has been detected in wastewater surveillance, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From April 14 through April 27, the variant, labeled KP.2, made up about 25% of cases in the United States, according to the CDC. That makes it the new dominant variant in the country, overtaking JN.1. The JN.1 variant, which spread globally over the winter, made up 22% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in the same two-week span.
KP.1.1, another FLiRT variant that is circulating, made up about 7.5% of COVID-19 cases in that two-week span, according to CDC data.
Megan L. Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, told WebMD that FLiRT has some concerning features, like changes in the spike protein that plays a role in helping SARS-CoV-2
Health officials say a new set of COVID-19 variants, nicknamed FLiRT, is on the rise.
colonize the body and make people sick.
Another concern: the low numbers of people who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. According to the CDC, fewer than 1 in 4 adults reported having received an updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine since September 2023. Data shows that vaccination increased by age and was highest among adults 75 and older.
“We’ve got a population of people with waning immunity, which increases our susceptibility to a wave,” Thomas A. Russo, chief of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, told WebMD.
The “FLiRT” variant appears to have similar symptoms to those from JN.1, which include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, headache, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, “brain fog” (feeling less wakeful and aware) and gastrointestinal symptoms such as upset stomach, mild diarrhea and vomiting.
The CDC notes that the list does not include all possible symptoms and that symptoms may change with new variants and can vary by person.
In general, the agency says, people with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe illness. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
As of March 2024, the CDC has updated its COVID-19 guidance so people who test positive for the virus are no longer directed to isolate at home for five days.
Instead, health officials are focused on actions people can take to reduce spreading a variety of common respiratory viruses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.
Those actions include staying home when sick, staying current with vaccines, practicing good hygiene and improving indoor air quality.
The change marked the first time the agency had revised its coronavirus guidelines since 2021. It applies to people and employers, not hospitals or nursing homes that have separate guidance, the CDC said.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Adrianna Rodriguez, Ken Alltucker, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Mike Snider, USA TODAY