Office of Medical Communications

UVM Medical Center pathologist Christina Wojewoda, M.D., professor of pathology and laboratory medicine

(MAY 10, 2024) UVM Medical Center pathologist Christina Wojewoda, M.D., professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, discussed the new COVID variant FLiRT KP.2 in a Yahoo News Parade article.

According to late April 2024 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new COVID variant, the unfortunately-named FLiRT KP.2 variant, is behind nearly 25 percent of all new cases and still on the rise. It’s rapidly outpacing the JN.1 variant, which was the most dominant this past winter and racked up about 22 percent of cases from the April data set. Another FLiRT variant, KP1.1, is behind about 7 percent of recent cases.

Infectious disease experts say the most common COVID-19 symptoms they’ve seen recently include fever, cough, and fatigue. Part of what’s made COVID so tricky to treat and curb is that the symptoms vary from patient to patient, and some patients are asymptomatic and don’t show or feel any signs of infection at all,

“First off,” Wojewoda says, “FLiRT seems to be a bit more adept at spreading than some of the previous strains. This means we’re seeing it pop up in more places and spreading a bit faster than what we’ve seen before. FLiRT appears to have some changes in its spike protein—you know, that little knob-like structure on the virus that helps it latch onto cells? Well, FLiRT’s spike protein seems to have some alterations, which could potentially make it more infectious.”

Wojewoda notes that FLiRT variants don’t appear to cause more severe illness than other strains, “So while it might be spreading a bit more efficiently, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s making people sicker.”

If you think you have COVID-19, whether the FLiRT variant or any other, the best course of action is to talk to your physician ASAP to get it handled, Wojewoda says.

“If you’re experiencing any of these [symptoms], especially if they’re severe or persistent, it’s important to reach out to your doctor,” Wojewoda advises. “The earlier you catch it, the better you can manage it, so don’t hesitate to get tested if you’re not feeling right.”

Aside from seeing a doctor if you’re feeling ill, the advice is pretty much the same as it’s been for four years: Stay home if you can, and if you have to go out, mask up. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, stay hydrated, and rest as much as you can.