What to find out about unfold, signs
A brand new set of COVID-19 variants, nicknamed FLiRT, has been detected in wastewater surveillance, in response to information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
From April 14 by April 27, the variant, labeled KP.2, makes up about 25% of the instances in the US, in response to the CDC. That makes it the brand new dominant variant within the nation, overtaking JN.1. The JN.1 variant, which unfold globally over the winter, made up 22% of COVID-19 instances within the U.S. in the identical two-week span.
KP.1.1, one other FLiRT variant that’s circulating, made up about 7.5% of COVID-19 instances in that two-week span, in response to CDC information.
Megan L. Ranney, dean of the Yale Faculty of Public Well being, advised WebMD that FLiRT has some regarding options, like modifications within the spike protein, which play a task in serving to SARS-CoV-2 colonize the physique and make individuals sick.
In response to the CDC, solely 22.6% of adults reported having acquired an up to date 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine since September 2023. Information additionally exhibits that vaccination protection elevated by age and was highest amongst adults 75 and older.
“We’ve obtained a inhabitants of individuals with waning immunity, which will increase our susceptibility to a wave,” Thomas A. Russo, chief of infectious illness on the Jacobs Faculty of Medication and Biomedical Sciences on the College of Buffalo, advised WebMD.
USA TODAY has reached out to the CDC for extra data on the “FLiRT” variant however haven’t heard again.
New COVID-19 tips:CDC shortens COVID-19 isolation interval. What to find out about new tips
Signs of COVID ‘FLiRT’ variant
The “FLiRT” variant seems to have related signs to these from JN.1, which embody:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nostril
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Problem respiratory
- Fatigue
- New lack of style or odor
- “Mind fog” (feeling much less wakeful and conscious)
- Gastrointestinal signs (upset abdomen, gentle diarrhea, vomiting)
The CDC notes that the listing doesn’t embody all doable signs and that signs could change with new variants and may differ by individual.
Typically, the company says, individuals with COVID-19 have a variety of signs, starting from gentle to extreme sickness. Signs could seem two to 14 days after publicity.
Newest COVID steering from the CDC
In March 2024, the CDC up to date its COVID-19 steering so individuals who take a look at constructive for the virus will now not be directed to isolate at house for 5 days.
Well being officers introduced a brand new coverage specializing in actions individuals can take to cut back spreading quite a lot of widespread respiratory viruses, reminiscent of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. These actions embody staying house when sick, staying updated with vaccines, training good hygiene and enhancing indoor air high quality.
The change marked the primary time the company has revised its coronavirus tips since 2021. It’s meant for individuals and employers, not for hospitals or nursing houses which have separate steering, the CDC stated.
CDC officers referred to as the change a streamlined method that’s simpler for individuals to know and extra in keeping with circulating respiratory viruses that unfold the identical approach and have related signs.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Adrianna Rodriguez, Ken Alltucker, Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Mike Snider
Gabe Hauari is a nationwide trending information reporter at USA TODAY. You possibly can comply with him on X @GabeHauari or e-mail him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
