After Maharashtra, FLiRT variants identified in Kolkata: COVID symptoms to pay attention to

After Maharashtra, FLiRT variants have been identified in West Bengal. 36 samples have tested positive for the new COVID variant KP.2, which is a part of the FLiRT group of variants. "KP.2 is replacing the JN.1 variant and has been found in about 50% of samples being sequenced," health officials have told the media. The samples have been sequenced at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani.

As per reports, a total of 286 cases of COVID have been confirmed to have been caused by the FLiRT variants. States where FLiRT variants have been found are Goa, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The highest number of such COVID cases have been found in Maharashtra.

As per the data shared by John Hopkins, as of early May, KP.2 makes up about 28% of infections, overtaking JN.1 as the dominant variant.

"A JN.1 infection should provide pretty strong protection against all the FLiRT variants. The difference between JN.1 and these variants is only one or two amino acid changes, so there are still a lot of other places antibodies can bind to. Infection from a variant older than JN.1 is less likely to offer as much protection," experts at John Hopkins have said.

A fresh wave of COVID is being reported in Singapore. As per regional news reports, currently, KP.1 and KP.2 account for over two-thirds of cases in Singapore and it is expected that a peak of COVID wave will be seen between mid and end of June. Singapore is currently seeing more than 25,000 active COVID cases in a day.

​Fresh COVID wave in Singapore: FLiRT variants account for two-thirds of cases; peak expected in June​

Common COVID-19 symptoms currently include fever, cough, and fatigue. Many individuals experience respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath, sore throat, and nasal congestion or runny nose. Loss of taste or smell remains a notable sign, though less frequent with recent variants. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also reported. Muscle or body aches, headache, and chills are prevalent. Severity varies widely, from mild to severe, with some people remaining asymptomatic. It's important to monitor symptoms and seek medical advice if they worsen, as COVID-19 can still pose significant health risks.