FLiRT

FLiRT

Context: Genomic surveillance data show that the new coronavirus variant called KP.2 — nicknamed FLiRT — has been in circulation in India since November 2023. This variant has been linked to rising cases of Covid-19 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.

About:

• Variant Lineage and Mutations:
o KP.2, nicknamed FLiRT, is a descendant of the JN.1 variant.
o It is a sub-variant of the Omicron lineage, featuring new mutations.

• Immune Escape Characteristics:
o FLiRT\'s nickname is derived from the letters representing two immune escape mutations.
o These mutations allow the virus to evade antibodies, enabling it to escape immunity from vaccines and previous infections.

• Symptoms of FLiRT are
o Symptoms of FLiRT are similar to those of earlier variants
and include fever, cough, fatigue, and digestive issues.

• Transmission and Severity:
o The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that there are no indicators suggesting KP.2 would cause more severe illness than other strains.
o However, FLiRT has a heightened transmission rate and is likely to drive a wave of infections.

• Silent Spread:
o Similar to its parent variant JN.1, infections caused by FLiRT are likely to spread silently.
o Without severe symptoms, most people are unlikely to get themselves tested.

• Presence in India:
o Genomic surveillance data show that KP.2 has been in circulation in India since November 2023. 

India Case:

• Genomic Data:
o INSACOG sequenced 250 KP.2 genomes, with 128 sequences from Maharashtra.
o The highest number of KP.2 sequences were found in March.

• Global Proportion:
o India has been reporting the highest proportion of KP.2 sequences in the world, according to global data.

• GISAID Data:
o KP.2 sequences made up 29% of the Covid-19 sequences uploaded by India to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) over the last 60 days.

• Dominant Variant:
o Despite the presence of KP.2, JN.1 continues to be the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India.