United States: Concerns mount in the United States as the summer season draws near regarding a cluster of COVID-19 variants. These variants stem from the final JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant. As per reports in the media, the FLiRT variant, encompassing KP.2, is characterized by mutations denoted by the letters F, L, R, and T in their genetic sequences.
Findings by CDC!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have unearthed an unfamiliar array of COVID-19 variants propagating throughout the US, now designated as FLiRT. Within this cluster, the KP.2 variant has gained prominence. Its prevalence has surged to approximately one-quarter of COVID-19 instances in the United States, spanning from April 14 to April 27. CDC statistics depict rapid dissemination — occurrences of the variant escalated from roughly 4% of total cases in the concluding week of March to nearly 25% by the end of April.
COVID Resurges as a Global Threat!
The health ministry of Singapore has recently announced its vigilant monitoring of a recent surge in COVID-19 infections, observing a significant increase in cases for the week ending May 11, with a surge in hospitalizations, albeit with low admissions to intensive care units (ICUs).
Two JN.1 variants, KP.1 and KP.2, collectively constitute over two-thirds of Singapore’s COVID cases. The ministry underscored that JN.1 and its subsidiary lineages remain predominant worldwide and that KP.2 is among the variants newly included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) watchlist.
The ministry emphasized the absence of indications suggesting heightened severity or transmissibility of illnesses attributed to circulating variants. Nonetheless, a likely decline in population immunity was noted over time. It urged individuals to maintain currency with their COVID vaccinations, particularly those at heightened risk of severe illness.
Researchers have been monitoring a consistent escalation in JN.1 derivatives featuring two supplementary spike mutations, colloquially termed the FLiRT (F for L at position 456 and R for T at position 346), potentially conferring enhanced immune-evading attributes. KP.2 encompasses the FLiRT mutations and has in recent weeks surpassed JN.1 to emerge as the predominant variant in the United States.
Surge in the UK
The United Kingdom has reported modest upticks in cases and hospitalizations, up from exceedingly low levels.
The UK’s Health Security Agency is urging eligible individuals, including residents of nursing homes, to schedule their spring COVID vaccine booster shots.