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There’s a new dominant COVID variant — but are the symptoms any different?

BY ADDY BINK -
06/11/24 5:42 PM ET

(NEXSTAR) — It took just a few weeks for a new COVID variant to rank as the most prominent in the U.S., unseating its fellow ‘FLiRT’ spin-off of the once-dominant Omicron variant.

The latest projections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show KP.3, a sublineage of the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant, may comprise 25% of the COVID tests sequenced in the country. Close behind is KP.2, which may make up about 22% of COVID cases.

CDC estimates for late May, the most recent available, show KP.3 may be most prevalent across states in the West and South. KP.2 is most common across the Midwest and Northeast.

This comes after the CDC reported last week that COVID infections are believed to be “growing or likely growing in 30 states and territories.” In 18 others, cases are estimated to be “stable or uncertain,” while only one state — Oklahoma — is believed to be seeing a decline in cases.

Will your last COVID vaccine work against new ‘FLiRT’ variants?

While previous FLiRT variants KP.1.1 and KP.2 appear relatively similar to JN.1, experts have warned KP.3 may be better at evading immunity. However, KP.2 and KP.3 are still relatively similar, Dr. Natalie Thornburg, the chief lab official for the CDC’s Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division explained last week.



more at https://thehill.com/homenews/4716713-th ... different/

These Are The New FLIRT Covid Variant Symptoms To Look For

Sarah-Louise Kelly
Fri 19 July 2024 at 3:49 pm CEST·

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there has been a 17% uplift in reported cases of Covid over the past 7 days compared to the previous week.

Covid has been surging throughout this summer with a new group of variants known collectively as FLIRT and, according to health experts, now is the ideal time for the virus to spread.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical. said: “Increased travel and big events such as festivals often result in crowded settings where the virus can spread more easily, and there are no longer any legal restrictions like wearing masks or social distancing.”

What are the symptoms of the new Covid strains?

Prof Paul Hunter, an epidemiology expert from the University of East Anglia spoke with the BBC about Covid as we know it now and said: “We are all of us going to get repeated Covid infections from births through to death. Generally what we’ve seen is that over the last three years, four years, the severity of illness associated with Covid has gone down a lot.

“Ultimately, it’s going to become another cause of the common cold and, for many people, that’s what it is now. To be honest, you can’t really avoid it because it’s so common.”

The official list of Covid symptoms has not changed, according to the UKHSA.

Symptoms include:

• High temperature or shivering
  New, continuous cough
  Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
  Shortness of breath
  Feeling tired or exhausted
  Aching body
  Headache
  Sore throat
  Blocked or runny nose
  Loss of appetite
  Diarrhoea
  Feeling sick or being sick

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/flirt-covid-v ... 09271.html
(original HuffPost)