The KP.2 coronavirus variant is expanding rapidly.
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is continually evolving, with several mutations, combined under the name FLiRT, that have been circulating in Germany for some time. One specific mutation, KP.2, is attracting attention.
KP.2, a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, could potentially become the dominant variant globally in the coming weeks, displacing the current dominant variant JN.1. This is evident in data from different countries.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a KP.2 prevalence of 28.2% for the two weeks up to May 11, 2024, a nearly 13% rise from the previous two weeks. In Germany, KP.2 has already reached 25% in the samples examined during the 18th week of 2024 (29.04. to 05.05.). However, the previous week still saw only 4.17% of KP.2.
KP.2 can be traced in the UK too, according to a Japanese research team's preprint on Biorxiv, which highlights the variant's virological characteristics. The team discovered KP.2's effective reproduction number in the US, UK, and Canada was 1.22, 1.32, and 1.26 times higher than that of JN.1, respectively. Kaku's team posits that KP.2 is more virally fit than JN.1. Viral fitness denotes a coronavirus' ability to replicate. Additionally, KP.2 has increased immune evasion potential, allowing previously infected or vaccinated individuals to contract the virus. Surprisingly, the infectivity of KP.2 is lower than that of JN.1.
Despite scarce data on the FLiRT variants, including KP.2, scientists predict that these mutants will not cause a new world coronavirus wave. Eric Topol, a US physician and vice president at Californian research institute Scripps Research in La Jolla, affirmed in a "Covid update" that Covid will persist, but the FLiRT variants may not present significant short-term threats. Nonetheless, these variants could lead to an increase in Covid cases.
The various FLiRT variants are distant relatives of the Omicron strain and originated from the JN.1 variant. They were discovered during wastewater monitoring in the US.
FLiRT's nomenclature derives from two mutations - F456L and R346T - found on the virus's spike protein. Specifically, the new variant has an L instead of an F at amino acid position 456 and an R in place of a T at position 346. These mutations have been around for a while, which Topol asserts, does not pose a significant challenge to existing population immunity. The World Health Organization also believes the risk posed by KP.2 is low.
It's undetermined if an infection with any of the FLiRT variants can lead to new Covid symptoms. However, it's possible that FLiRT-infected individuals may experience the already known Covid symptoms, such as breathing difficulties, cough, fever, chills, sore throat, rhinitis, fatigue, and general weakness, regardless of their vaccination status.
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The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's central national institution for disease control and prevention, is closely monitoring the spread of the KP.2 variant, being aware of its potential to disrupt Covid-19 infection patterns due to its higher viral fitness and capacity for immune evasion. This ongoing mutation of SARS-Cov-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, is part of the broader context of educational efforts to combat infectious diseases, as understanding virus evolution and strategies to mitigate their impact are crucial components of public health curricula.
Source: www.ntv.de
