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What Is FLiRT, The New COVID-19 Variant, Raising Concerns? Here’s Everything You Need To Know About It

The FLiRT variant of COVID-19 is spreading across the US and has raised concerns as the number of infections is expected to rise as temperatures soar.

by Tashika Tyagi
What Is FLiRT, The New COVID-19 Variant, Raising Concerns? Here’s Everything You Need To Know About It

A new variant of COVID-19 named FLiRT has emerged and raised concerns in the USA. Belonging to Omicron’s JN.1 lineage, this new variant is replacing the Eris variant in not just the US but the UK, New Zealand, and South Korea as well. This has raised concerns as the number of cases is rapidly spreading, especially in the USA. This variant is also considered more infectious than the Omicron variants, according to experts. Read on to know more about FLiRT and its symptoms.

FLiRT – The New COVID-19 Variant That You Need To Know About

FLiRT COVID-19
Image Courtesy: Canva

A new COVID-19 variant is raising concerns in the USA right now. Named FLiRT, this COVID variant is considered more infectious than the previous Omicron one. According to experts, this new variant belongs to Omicron’s JN.1 lineage. It has two mutations, KP.2 and KP 1.1 and they are both spreading rapidly in the USA right now. The KP.2 variant of FLiRT is more prevalent right now. As per reports, it accounted for approximately 25% of COVID-19 cases in the US from April 14 to April 27. Thankfully, it is still not as widespread in the country and the cases of hospitalisation are also low.

For now, the experts are trying to figure out whether FLiRT is as deadly as its predecessors. They have noticed that FLiRT also has some concerning features like changes in the spike protein. This plays an important role in helping SARS-CoV-2 take hold, colonise the body, and make people sick. The rising heat in the US has also contributed to the concerns of the health authorities. They are expecting an increase in the number of infections as temperatures rise across the country.

As per health experts, most people in the USA are currently vulnerable to this new COVID-19 variant. This is mainly due to the fact that only 22% of the population in the county is vaccinated. However, data shows that even people with booster vaccines may not be well-protected against a potential surge.

Also Read: After Eating Free Poha In Vadodara, 20 People Have Been Hospitalised For Food Poisoning

Symptoms To Watch Out For & Precautionary Steps To Follow

FLiRT COVID-19
Image Courtesy: Canva

While FLiRT is considered more infectious than the Omicron variant, its symptoms are the same. Here are some symptoms to watch out for –

  1. Fever/Chills
  2. Body aches
  3. Persistent cough
  4. Loss of smell and taste
  5. Sore throat
  6. Congestion
  7. Runny nose
  8. Vomiting
  9. Diarrhoea
  10. Headache
  11. Muscle aches
  12. Breathlessness
  13. Fatigue

If you feel any of these issues for a long time, then it’s best to consult a doctor. As for some precautionary measures that you can take –

  1. Get vaccinated
  2. Stay home or isolate yourself if you’re not feeling well.
  3. Wear a mask while in public.
  4. Maintain distance and avoid public gatherings unless necessary.

Please take care of these things and remember prevention is better than cure.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)

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