All about FLiRT, the new COVID-19 variants | Explained

Here’s what you need to know about FLiRT, the new COVID-19 variants. New COVID-19 cases are linked to a cluster of variants; the periodic spike in cases reframes COVID-19 as a cyclical disease, and universal protections will help protect the most vulnerable.

The ongoing narrative: The COVID-19 cycle continues with the emergence of new variants. These variants, named KP.2 and KP1.1 or ‘FLiRT’ variations, are descendants of last year’s globally spreading Omicron JN.1 variant. According to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), these downstream variants have been responsible for recent cases and a small increase in hospitalizations in the U.S. Similarly, there has been a surge in FLiRT cases in the U.K., South Korea, and New Zealand, raising concerns about a potential new wave of COVID-19 infections. In India, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has detected 238 cases of KP.2 and 30 cases of KP1.1 as of May 6th.