Are FLiRT COVID variants more contagious?

Can FLiRT variants cause severe illness?

Is vaccination effective against FLiRT COVID variants?

"Unpleasant" symptoms of FLiRT COVID variants

What is JN.1 COVID variant?

How to stay safe from FLiRT COVID variants?

Since the beginning of the year, the FLiRT group of COVID variants have been in circulation. At some places these variants have replaced the dominant strain JN.1 variant. In view of their speedy transmission, there arises a question: Are FLiRT variants more contagious than their ancestors?FLiRT COVID variants , including KP.2, JN.1.7, and others beginning with KP or JN, collectively represent a family sharing identical mutations through convergent evolution.They all trace their origins back to the JN.1 variant. "The particular mutations that people refer to as “FLiRT”s or “FLip”s refer to specific positions in the spike protein—in this case, positions 456, 346, and 572," according to Johns Hopkins University.Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, New York, and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America told Reuters in May that he had not seen evidence of an uptick in disease or hospitalizations, based on the data he tracks and experience with his own patients."There have been some significant changes in the variants, but I think in recent times it's not been as important, probably because of the immunity many, many people already have" from prior illness and vaccination.CDC data suggests that COVID-related hospitalizations have risen slightly since April and the number of patients in emergency departments who have tested positive for COVID has increased since May, in line with trends a year ago.Since 2022, health regulators have asked vaccine makers to design new versions of the COVID-19 vaccines to better target circulating variants. Europe's regulator has said vaccine makers should target the JN.1 variant. U.S. regulators asked for the vaccines to target variants within the JN.1 lineage, but said the preferred strain to target would be the KP.2 strain, which was dominant in June.While it has become a common assumption that all COVID variants have almost the same set of symptoms and the symptoms are getting milder, there are a few people who say differently.“The dogma is that every time you get COVID, it’s milder. But I think we need to keep our minds open to the possibility that some people have worse symptoms,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert told LA Times.People have shared their experience of dealing with FLiRT COVID variants and it is not at all pleasant. Some people experience recurring fever, and congestion so serious that it becomes difficult to even breathe. In some cases there is terrible sinus pressure and headache. " I've had COVID a few times but this is the worst I've had it. I've tested positive 4 days in a row, fall asleep every few hours with fever dreams, temp has broken a couple times but keeps going back up to 99/100, terrible sinus pressure and headache, (cannot breathe out of my nose), and I can't stand up for too long without feeling like I'm about to pass out," writes one person on Reddit.In some cases, the throat pain is so intense that it feels like razor blades. During COVID-19, a throat infection can cause added concern due to overlapping symptoms with the virus, such as sore throat and difficulty swallowing.While these are a few symptoms people have shared on social media, there can be many other remote and unusual signs as well, hence it is important to get tested for COVID and take necessary precautions.To stay safe from FLiRT COVID variants, it's crucial to adhere to preventive measures. First, prioritize vaccination to bolster immunity against severe illness and reduce transmission. Secondly, practice consistent hand hygiene and wear masks in crowded or indoor settings, especially in areas with high transmission rates. Thirdly, maintain physical distance from others, particularly if unvaccinated or in poorly ventilated spaces. Lastly, stay informed about local guidelines and updates from health authorities to adjust behaviors accordingly. These measures collectively help mitigate the spread and impact of FLiRT variants amid ongoing global efforts to manage COVID-19.