'FLiRT' New COVID-19 variant spreads in US, Know about symptoms

New Delhi: A new Covid-19 variant known as FLiRT belonging to Omicron's JN.1 lineage is rapidly spreading across several countries, including the US, UK, New Zealand, and South Korea. Experts warn that FLiRT has the ability to evade the immune system due to a trans substitution of amino acids between two spike proteins.  

According to experts, this variant is rapidly replacing the previous variant, Eris in the US, UK, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Rajeev Gupta, Director of Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, notes a recent surge in hospitalization rates attributed to this variant, although the overall mortality rate has not increased significantly.

“A recent increase in hospitalisation rates in these countries has been attributed to this variant; however, it has remained a relatively small wave. The overall mortality rate has not increased,” Gupta told IANS.

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

According to Dhiren Gupta, a Pediatric Intensivist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, these new strains will keep emerging, reports news agency IANS. 

“Fortunately, none of the Omicron lineage is able to induce significant lung damage as delta strain did but limited to the upper respiratory tract. The surveillance and vigilance should be kept for major drift in virus,” he said.            

According to the experts, the increased use of monoclonal antibodies could be driving this mutation.  

The symptoms of the new variant are similar to those of other Omicron subvariants, such as sore throat, cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, fever, and possible loss of taste and smell, the experts mentioned.