COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 circumstances are rising: Signs, unfold, CDC knowledge
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) is now monitoring the COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 because it edges near KP.3.
The authorities company’s Nowcast knowledge tracker confirmed the projections of the COVID-19 variants for a two-week interval beginning on July 7 and ending on July 20. The KP.3 variant accounted for 32.9% of optimistic infections, adopted by KP.3.1.1, at 17.7%. Mixed, the 2 variants make up 50.6% of circumstances.
“The KP.3.1.1 variant is similar to different circulating variants in the US. All present lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023,” CDC Spokesperson Rosa Norman advised USA TODAY. “Presently, we anticipate that COVID-19 therapies and vaccines will proceed to work towards all circulating variants. CDC will proceed to watch the severity of variants and can monitor vaccine effectiveness.”
The info additionally exhibits that from June 23 to July 6, KP.3 was at 33.7% throughout the earlier two-week interval. The pressure decreased in positivity by 0.8%. Nonetheless, KP.3.1.1. rose 10.9% from 6.8% for the interval ending on July 6 to 17.7% on July 20.
Here’s what it is advisable to know in regards to the KP.3.1.1 variant.
See newest CDC knowledge:COVID-19 variant KP.3 stays dominant in US, rises to 36.9% of circumstances
How are KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants comparable?
The KP.3.1.1 COVID-19 variant is a pressure that’s the second most prevalent on the nationwide, regional and state degree, in accordance with the CDC’s Nowcast knowledge tracker.
“KP.3.1.1 is a sub-lineage of KP.3,” Norman mentioned.
How are KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 totally different?
Norman beforehand defined that KP.3.1.1 has one change in spike protein.
JN.1, a variant that has been circulating since December 2023, solely noticed a single change in spike, not like the KP.3 variant, which is a sub-lineage of the JN.1, CDC Spokesperson Dave Daigle beforehand advised USA TODAY.
“KP.3.1.1 has one change within the spike protein compared to KP.3,” she mentioned.
The most typical COVID variants at present
Norman explains which variants are extra prevalent in July 2024.
“We’re predicting that essentially the most prevalent lineages at present are KP.3, KP.3.1.1, KP.2.3 and LB.1, a sublineage of JN.1,” she mentioned. “All these lineages are descendants of JN.1 and have comparable spike proteins.”
Summer season surge? CDC says peaks with COVID can fluctuate
As well as, Norman explains which occasions of the 12 months COVID-19 circumstances sometimes rise.
“Information from 4 years of COVID-19 exams, hospitalizations and deaths present that COVID-19 has winter peaks — most lately in late December 2023 and early January 2024. Hospital knowledge has additionally proven smaller summer time peaks — most lately in July and August of 2023,” she mentioned. “There isn’t a distinct COVID-19 season like there may be for influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Whereas flu and RSV have a usually outlined fall/winter seasonality and flow into at low ranges in most components of the US in the summertime, COVID-19 exercise happens at different occasions of the 12 months.”
Though CDC knowledge exhibits that COVID-19 check positivity has risen to 12.6% throughout the previous week, Norman mentioned that the information from the earlier week exhibits a minimal improve.
“In April and Might 2024, COVID-19 exercise was decrease than at any time for the reason that first U.S. pandemic wave. Current will increase have to be thought-about from that baseline. For the week ending July 13, 2024, COVID-19 check positivity elevated to 12.6%, which is up 1.2% from the earlier week,” she mentioned. “COVID-19 exercise tends to fluctuate with the seasons, which means it has some seasonal patterns pushed by new variants and reducing immunity from earlier infections and vaccinations.”
Whereas the CDC continues to watch the circulation of all the variants, Norman explains that the, “SARS-CoV-2 evolution is unpredictable.”
“The emergence of latest SARS-CoV-2 variants has been related to elevated COVID-19 exercise, together with a rise within the magnitude of winter peaks and extra peaks at different occasions of the 12 months, together with the summer time,” she mentioned. “Though the long run tempo of SARS-CoV-2 evolution is unpredictable, elevated exercise outdoors the winter season will seemingly proceed so long as new variants emerge and immunity from earlier infections and vaccinations decreases over time.”
Extra on COVID-19:Is COVID nonetheless value worrying about? It will depend on your scenario.
COVID-19 Signs
The CDC has not mentioned if KP.3 or KP.3.1.1 have their very own particular signs. Nonetheless, Norman beforehand defined that the signs related to KP.3 are much like these from JN.1. The federal government company outlines the fundamental signs of COVID-19 on its web site. These signs can seem between two and 14 days after publicity to the virus and might vary from gentle to extreme.
These are a few of the signs of COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or issue respiratory
- Fatigue
- Muscle or physique aches
- Headache
- Lack of style or scent
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nostril
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
The CDC mentioned it is best to search medical consideration when you’ve got the next signs:
- Hassle respiratory
- Persistent ache or strain within the chest
- New confusion
- Lack of ability to wake or keep awake
- Pale, grey, or blue-colored pores and skin, lips, or nail beds
CDC knowledge exhibits the COVID-19 check positivity by state
CDC knowledge exhibits which states have the bottom and highest COVID-19 positivity charges from July 6 to July 13, 2024.
Cannot see the map? Click on right here to view it.
The CDC knowledge exhibits that COVID-19 check positivity has risen 12.6% throughout the previous week.
On July 16, the CDC mentioned that COVID-19 infections are rising in 42 states, secure or unsure in 6 states, and declining to zero.
Adjustments in COVID-19 check positivity inside every week
Information collected by the CDC exhibits that 4 states had the most important improve of 5.6% in optimistic COVID-19 circumstances from July 6 to July 13, 2024.
This is the listing of states and their modifications in COVID-19 positivity for the previous week.
- Alabama, +3.7%
- Alaska, +0.6%
- Arizona, +0.7%
- Arkansas, +3.3%
- California, +0.7%
- Colorado, +3.1%
- Connecticut, +3.4%
- Delaware, +3.6%
- District of Columbia, +3.6%
- Florida, +3.7%
- Georgia, +3.7%
- Hawaii, +0.7%
- Idaho, +0.5%
- Illinois, +4.7%
- Indiana, +4.7%
- Iowa, +5.6%
- Kansas, +5.6%
- Kentucky, +3.7%
- Louisiana, +3.3%
- Maine, +3.4%
- Maryland, +3.6%
- Massachusetts, +3.4%
- Michigan, +4.7%
- Minnesota, +4.7%
- Mississippi, +3.7%
- Missouri, +5.6%
- Montana, +3.1%
- Nebraska, +5.6%
- Nevada, +0.7%
- New Hampshire, +3.4%
- New Jersey, +5.5%
- New Mexico, +3.3%
- New York, +5.5%
- North Carolina, +3.7%
- North Dakota, +3.1%
- Ohio, +4.7%
- Oklahoma, +3.3%
- Oregon, +0.6%
- Pennsylvania, +3.6%
- Puerto Rico, +5.5%
- Rhode Island, +3.4%
- South Carolina, +3.7%
- South Dakota, +3.1%
- Tennessee, +3.7%
- Texas, +3.3%
- Utah, +3.1%
- Vermont, +3.4%
- Virginia. +3.6%
- Washington, +0.6%
- West Virginia, +3.6%
- Wisconsin, +4.7%
- Wyoming, +3.1%
How can we defend ourselves from KP.3, KP.3.1.1, and different variants?
The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months outdated and older get the up to date 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Norman additionally recommends that the aged and those that are immunocompromised ought to get vaccinated as a way to defend themselves from COVID-19.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the Nationwide Trending Staff at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking information, automobile recollects, crime, well being, lottery and public coverage tales. Electronic mail her at aforbes@gannett.com. Observe her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
