COVID-19 Variant ‘FLiRT’: 91 cases of the new COVID-19 Omicron subvariant KP.2 have been reported in Maharashtra. Reportedly, the state recorded the cases of the variant in January this year.
The Omicron subvariant KP.2 has outpaced the previously circulating JN.1 variant and is now driving cases in several countries. According to media reports, Pune has reported 51 cases and Thane 20 cases of KP.2, which was first detected globally in January.
According to Dr. Karyakarte, the state’s genome sequencing coordinator, there hasn’t been any proportionate increase in hospitalizations or serious cases.
It is noteworthy that KP.2 is a part of a larger group known as the FLiRT variants. The variants are off-shoots of Omicron and get their name from spike protein mutations.
In March this year, Maharashtra reported a surge in COVID-19 cases. Reportedly, the increase in cases of COVID-19 is likely due to the spread of KP.2 variant.
According to media reports, Besides Pune and Thane, seven cases each have been identified from Amravati and Aurangabad. Solapur has reported two cases, while Ahmednagar, Nashik, Latur and Sangli have reported one case each of the KP.2 variant. No cases have been identified from Mumbai. Pune has reported around 50 cases while Thane has reported 20 cases.
“As the COVID pandemic has slowed down, there has been a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases, but recently there has been an increase in the number of cases in the US. So the new variant that was observed is called the FLiRT variant. It is the variant within the omicron JN.1 lineage. So, this was the JN 0.1 variant the variant which caused a lot of cases last winter, though in all the cases, cases did not require hospitalization,” Dr. Rishikesh Dessai, Internal Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told Financial Express.com.
This is a sub-variant of the new FLiRT variant including KP 0.2 and KP 1.1, which have been reported to be more contagious than the previous omicron sub-variants, Dr. Dessai revealed.
However, the experts are doing the research still till date the number of hospitalizations is less due to this new variant, but they are said to be more contagious,
and they evade the immunity of a previously infected patient or a patient who has received previous vaccinations.
What are the symptoms of FLiRT variant?
The symptoms of FLiRT variant include:
- Cough,
- Cold,
- Sore throat,
- Nasal congestion,
- Body aches and easy fatigue,
- Headache,
- Fever with chills,
- Loss of appetite
According to Dr. Dessai, the Omicron variant doesn’t cause loss of taste and smell sensations.
“This FLiRT variant, which is further variant of Omicron JN 0.1, can evade the immunity of a past infected patient and the vaccine, though the extent is still under study and, as of now, as the reported cases are fewer and then patients requiring hospitalization are also less,” he added.
So prevention is better than cure. We should take precautions as we always do in other COVID-19 cases, that is, the use of proper masks, keeping our immunity healthy, and avoiding crowded places or staying away from other infected people, he said.
“People who have low immunity, especially elderly people with diabetes, hypertension and other respiratory illnesses, should always take precautions and should avoid crowded places,” he added.
