COVID-19 variants called ‘FLiRT’ continue to spread across the US, CDC says

A new group of COVID-19 variants is spreading in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC mentions that a set of variants, dubbed “FLiRT,” is now the dominant strain in the country.

CDC data shows that KP.2, one of the FLiRT variants, is responsible for about one in four infections currently in the United States.

The KP.2 variant could be potentially more dangerous than previous COVID-19 variants, according to WFTV 9 News.

Megan L. Ranney, MD, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, told WebMD that FLiRT has alarming features, such as changes in the spike protein, that help SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the spread of COVID-19. a person’s body.

The CDC notes that despite the decline in serious cases, COVID-19 remains a public health threat that people need to be aware of.

It is recommended that people over the age of 65 receive another dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

What are the symptoms of FLiRT variants?

• Sore throat

• Cough

• Fatigue

• Congestion

• Runny nose

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Fever or chills

• Loss of taste or smell

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea