The summer wave of Covid-19 infections continues unabated as the variant KP.3.1.1 doubles its prevalence in the past two weeks raising worries of increased hospitalisation and further spikes in infections.
The current dominant strains KP.3.1.1 and KP.3 that are leading to increase in Covid cases across US are being dubbed as part of FLiRT variant. The new variants come when changes in the spike protein of the virus increase its ability to infect cells efficiently and evade immune system, even in people who have previously been infected or vaccinated. They are the descendants of the JN. 1 variant, but carry fresh mutations that improve its transmissibility.
