It raises fears of a new wave of contaminations this summer…
It’s been a long time since we heard about Covid-19… or one of its variants. With the arrival of a new mutation of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, nicknamed “FLiRT”, a new wave of contaminations is feared this summer. This new variant seems to be spreading quickly, especially in the United States. “Viruses mutate all the time, so I’m not surprised to see a new variant of the coronavirus take over” commented Dr. Scott Roberts, infectious disease specialist at Yale Medicine. In France, the JN.1 variant (descendant of Omicron) remains in the majority since November 2023, according to the latest report from Public health France from May 2024. It is also the majority in the world.
A “rapid spread”
The new FLiRT variant which is actually called KP.2 is a sub-variant of JN1 which has been gaining ground since March 2024. “Following the wide circulation of JN.1 throughout the world, this variant has diversified genetically and sub-lineages have been defined” explains Santé Publique France. Four of these sublines have been classified as VUM (variant under evaluation) including KP.2 due to the additional mutations they carry (F456L and R346T mutations for KP.2), “two mutations that have been associated with changes in transmissibility and evasion of the immune response in previous variants”. It is also linked to the name of these mutations that the new variant was named “FLiRT” ( F456L And R346T). Since the beginning of May in the United States, this variant represents approximately 28% of Covid infections, surpassing the JN.1 variant and becoming the dominant variant in the United States according to statements by Professor of molecular microbiology and immunology Andy Pekosz on public health. The FLiRT variant is believed to be present in several countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. It was detected in France but “at low levels” according to Public Health France. However, he “raises questions due to its rapid spread in some countries and its genetic profile” esteems authority.
This spread raises fears of a renewed epidemic this summer, especially since for many people, the last dose of anti-Covid-19 vaccine was several months ago. However for Professor Pekosz “Even as case rates continue to rise and fall throughout the year, we are seeing far fewer cases of hospitalizations or deaths than we saw during the first two years of the pandemic.” The biggest question, according to Dr. Roberts, “is perhaps whether the newly mutated virus will continue to evolve before winter, when infections and hospitalizations typically increase, and whether FLiRT strains will be included in a fall Covid vaccine.” According to Public Health France, the KP.2 variant presents “increased” resistance to neutralizing antibodies induced by the vaccines used today.
As for symptoms, FLiRT is said to be the same as its predecessors for now. The fact that it is genetically similar to the JN.1 variant would be rather reassuring according to Dr. Roberts since it had symptoms.milder than those caused by variants during the early years of the pandemic.” For the moment, Santé Publique France reminds that measures to prevent respiratory viruses “remain relevant, in particular the vaccination strategy with regard to the evolution of the circulation of variants”.