Since the beginning of the year, the FLiRT group of COVID variants have been in circulation. At some places these variants have replaced the dominant strain JN.1 variant. In view of their speedy transmission, there arises a question: Are FLiRT variants more contagious than their ancestors?
FLiRT COVID variants, including KP.2, JN.1.7, and others beginning with KP or JN, collectively represent a family sharing identical mutations through convergent evolution. They all trace their origins back to the JN.1 variant. "The particular mutations that people refer to as “FLiRT”s or “FLip”s refer to specific positions in the spike protein—in this case, positions 456, 346, and 572," according to Johns Hopkins University.
