2024-05-08 16:17:13
The new strain was named FLiRT due to the position of the mutations in the proteins. So what is special about these versions of the virus and should we be concerned?
“FLiRT was first identified in a sewage treatment plant in the United States, but its exact origin is unknown,” Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, told Newsweek. “Now the FLiRT variant is spreading across the US and beyond.”
One of these new variants of FLiRT, labeled KP.2, accounts for 25 percent of cases in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Young said. new infections in the US.
“This raises concerns that this option could lead to a summer wave of infection,” he said.
Initial data suggest that KP.2 may be more infectious than previous variants, but it is too early to say whether it is more dangerous.
“We need to continue to monitor the spread of this variant, which is difficult given that current research is very fragmented,” Young said. – The spread of new variants of the virus and weakening immunity are a concern, especially for the most vulnerable – the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
“Although currently available vaccines are not perfect for these new variants, booster doses should provide some protection,” he continued. [Tačiau] it is possible that these FLiRT variants will cause a small wave of infection in the next few months.”
So what are the symptoms of these new strains of the virus?
As far as is known, the symptoms are similar to those of existing strains of the virus listed by the CDC. They include the following:
- fever or chills,
- cough,
- shortness of breath
- tiredness
- muscle or body aches,
- headache,
- loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat,
- style,
- nausea or vomiting,
- diarrhea
To protect against new variants of FLiRT, Young said, “usual precautions should be taken.”
“Do the research if you feel sick. If it’s positive, stay at home, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, and wear a face mask if you’re close to people, such as on public transport,” he said.
Parenting page “Newsweek”.
2024-05-08 16:17:13