The KP.1.1, and KP.2 strains are part of a new variant named FLiRT based on the technical names of their mutations, one of which includes the letters "F" and "L", and the other of which includes the letters "R" . " and T".
Genome sequencing in March and April revealed 91 cases of KP.2 in Maharashtra – Pune (51), Thane (20), Amravati (7), Aurangabad (7), Solapur (2), Ahmednaga (1), Nashik ( 1), Latur (1), and Sangli (1).
Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mahim, told IANS, "There is no reason to believe that the FLIRT group variants being reported are more dangerous than the existing variants "
"KP.2 appears to be more transmissible," he said.
The doctor advised people with weakened immunity to take precautions like wearing masks, avoiding crowded closed spaces and keeping co-morbidities under control.
The FLiRT variant belonged to the Omicron lineage, which was highly infectious and evaded immunity very well.
First identified globally in January, the KP.2 is a descendant of Omicron's JN.1.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that K.P. In the last week of April, about 25 percent of the newly sequenced cases in the country were from this category. Symptoms of the new variant typically include sore throat, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, fever (with or without chills), headache, muscle pain, and sometimes loss of taste or smell.
KP.2 has replaced the previously circulating JN.1 variant and is now driving cases in several countries, including the US, UK and Canada.
Department of Internal Medicine, C.K. “Although KP.2 may be the most dominant variant, it is not causing a massive increase in infections,” as has been seen in data from other countries, said Dr. Tusha Tayal, a key adviser to the WHO. Birla Hospital, Gurugram told IANS.
Genome sequencing in March and April revealed 91 cases of KP.2 in Maharashtra – Pune (51), Thane (20), Amravati (7), Aurangabad (7), Solapur (2), Ahmednaga (1), Nashik ( 1), Latur (1), and Sangli (1).
Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mahim, told IANS, "There is no reason to believe that the FLIRT group variants being reported are more dangerous than the existing variants "
"KP.2 appears to be more transmissible," he said.
The doctor advised people with weakened immunity to take precautions like wearing masks, avoiding crowded closed spaces and keeping co-morbidities under control.
The FLiRT variant belonged to the Omicron lineage, which was highly infectious and evaded immunity very well.
First identified globally in January, the KP.2 is a descendant of Omicron's JN.1.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that K.P. In the last week of April, about 25 percent of the newly sequenced cases in the country were from this category. Symptoms of the new variant typically include sore throat, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, fever (with or without chills), headache, muscle pain, and sometimes loss of taste or smell.
KP.2 has replaced the previously circulating JN.1 variant and is now driving cases in several countries, including the US, UK and Canada.
Department of Internal Medicine, C.K. “Although KP.2 may be the most dominant variant, it is not causing a massive increase in infections,” as has been seen in data from other countries, said Dr. Tusha Tayal, a key adviser to the WHO. Birla Hospital, Gurugram told IANS.
