KP.3 COVID-19 Subvariant on the Rise in the US; Experts Warn of Potential 'Summer Wave' of Cases

KP.3, a new variant of COVID-19, has been on the rise in the US amidst warnings of a possible COVID-19 "summer wave."

The variant has been dubbed "FLiRT" because of the mutation position within the spike proteins. The new class has now spread quickly across the US.

KP.3 FLiRT Subvariant on the Rise

Last May, one of the new subvariants, KP.2, accounted for most of the COVID-19 cases in the USA. However, since the start of June, a new subvariant of FLiRT, dubbed KP.3, has overpowered it and taken the lead.

KP.3 currently accounts for 25% of COVID-19 cases across the US. KP.2 follows closely at second place, accounting for 22.5% of cases.

Regarding the symptoms of these rising variants, authorities say that it is too early to conclude if these subvariants lead to any unusual symptoms, like the rise in pink eye symptoms linked to XBB.1.16.

More Contagious Variants

According to earlier evidence, both KP.2 and KP.3 could be more infectious compared to earlier variants. However, it is still too early to conclude if they pose greater dangers compared to others.

Natalie Thornburg, the chief lab official of the Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained that both variants are quite similar to JN.1, which was the primary lineage that circulated in the last winter.

Moreover, if one examines KP.2 and KP.3, the two are actually nearly identical with one another.

Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman, who is a biostatistics professor from the University of South Australia, explained that though FLiRT subvariants are quite genetically distant compared to the subvariants of XBB, vaccines may still offer a certain degree of cross-immunity. The existing vaccine is currently based on XBB 1.5.

However, a new vaccine could be available by September. This would be based on JN.1 or one FLiRT subvariant to offer greater protection.

William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University explained that, regarding disease severity, the FLiRT variants currently appear to not lead to severe disease. However, as observed in the past few years, viruses can be quick to change.

Schaffner noted that the variants are not likely to lead to gravely distinct symptoms.

The CDC noted that the main COVID-19 symptoms to examine are cough, fever or chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, muscle or body aches, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, runny nose, or diarrhea.

The CDC also suggests that though infections are on the rise in the US, hospitalizations and deaths have been declining.

Virus expert Lawrence Young, a molecular oncology professor from the University of Warwick, noted how important it is to monitor the variant's spread.

To stay protected, Rosa Norman, the CDC Spokesperson, advises everyone who is at least six months old to get the COVID-19 vaccine for 2023-2024. She noted that the vaccine could aid in protecting against any grave illnesses due to COVID.