All you need to know about FLiRT COVID-19 Variant

A group of variants of COVID-19 has become a cause of concern in the United States.

The variants are derived from the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant.

These FLiRT variants, which include KP.2, are marked by mutations identified by the letters F, L, R, and T in their genetic codes.

According to a study the variant has “demonstrated increased transmissibility and immune resistance.”

JN.1 is still responsible for 95 percent of COVID cases in the United States.

COVID-19 waves have also fallen into a predictable rhythm, with a large winter wave and a smaller mid- to late-summer peak.

As of April 30, 2024, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant JN.1 has high prevalence in the United States

Another study from researchers in Japan, which was posted online before being peer-reviewed, found that KP.2 is less infectious than JN.1.