New Covid variant FLiRT

07.05.2024

New Covid variant FLiRT

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

FLiRT, a group of new Covid-19 variants belonging to Omicron's JN.1 lineage, is spreading fast in the US, raising concern about a new wave of infections in summer.

Key Points:

• With new mutations, KP.2 and KP 1.1 variants are deemed to be more contagious than past Omicron variants; however, specialists say the side-effects stay pretty much similar.
• KP.2 has reported to have taken over the JN.1 variant in the US although cases of hospitalization there remain low, as per media reports.
• KP.1.1, another FLirt variant, is also detected in the US, but seems to be less in circulation than KP.2.

About FLiRT

• According to the Infectious Disease Society of America, the nickname 'FLiRT' is based on the technical names for their mutations.

      ○The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reclassified it as a variant of interest and advised close monitoring.

• The most prominent FLiRT variant is KP.2, which has become the dominant strain in the U.S and accounting for around 25% of new COVID-19 cases as of April 2024.
• The FLiRT variants, especially KP.2, appear to have increased transmissibility compared to previous Omicron sub variants.
• Just like other COVID-19 strains that have gained dominance in the U.S. over the last year JN.1, HV.1, EG.5 aka Eris, and XBB.1.16 or Arcturus the FLiRT variants are part of the omicron family.
• They also show the ability to evade immunity from prior infection and vaccines, though the extent is still under study.
• "FLiRT is a very interesting nickname for a group of Covid variants that have been identified in the US.

• These are descendants of the JN. 1 variant that came in last December. They carry some fresh mutations that seem to be allowing it to spread easily.
• Its symptoms are not significantly different from the previously known Covid variants.
• Flu like symptoms, body ache, and fever  in some cases digestive issues. As such based on these symptoms, it would be hard to determine whether you have contracted this variant.

Symptoms:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion and runny nose
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches,
• Fever or chillsLoss of taste or smell (less common with Omicron than with earlier variants)

                                          Source: Business standard

The term ‘FLiRT’ was recently seen in the news for which one of the following reasons?

(a) It is a tribal craft which recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

(b) It is a tribal language which is near extinction.

(c) It is a newly discovered group of new Covid-19 variants belonging to Omicron's JN.1 lineage.

(d) It is a megalithic burial structure found from the Iron Age.

Answer C