New Covid FLiRT Variants: Dominant Strains in US and Europe, Potential Impact on Vaccine Effectiveness

California, United States United States of America
Combined 35.3% of all Covid-19 cases in US as of May 25, 2024
Descendants of previously dominant JN.1 variant and have same set of mutations
Detected in 14 European countries with limited cases as of May 2024
KP.1.1 accounts for around 7.1% of current infections
KP.2 and KP.1.1 collectively known as FLiRT variants
KP.2 is leading strain in US, making up approximately 28.2% of all cases
Little evidence that new strains cause more severe disease than previous ones, but could potentially evade immunity from vaccines or previous Covid-19 bouts
New Covid FLiRT Variants: dominant strains in US and Europe
New Covid FLiRT Variants: Dominant Strains in US and Europe, Potential Impact on Vaccine Effectiveness

New Covid FLiRT Variants: A Summer Spike Concern

The world is bracing for a potential summer surge in Covid-19 cases due to the emergence and spread of new variants, specifically KP.2 and KP.1.1, collectively known as the FLiRT variants.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these new strains have become dominant in the US, accounting for a combined 35.3% of all Covid-19 cases as of May 25, 2024.

KP.2 is now the leading strain in the US, making up approximately 28.2% of all cases. Meanwhile, KP.1.1 accounts for around 7.1% of current infections.

These new strains are descendants of the previously dominant JN.1 variant and have independently picked up the same set of mutations, according to John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has detected these new variants in 14 European countries with limited cases as of May 2024.

Despite concerns, health professionals are emphasizing that there is currently little evidence that the new strains cause more severe disease than previous ones. Hospitalizations associated with Covid-19 are at record lows, according to various sources.

However, it's important to note that these new strains could potentially make it easier for the virus to evade people's immunity from vaccines or previous Covid-19 bouts. As a result, health officials are closely monitoring their spread and assessing the ongoing effectiveness of vaccines against them.

Next month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) vaccines advisory committee will meet to discuss recommendations for the variant mix for this winter's Covid-19 vaccine, having postponed an earlier discussion to collect more data.

Stay informed about the latest developments in Covid-19 by following reputable sources such as the CDC and WHO.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are there any studies that suggest the FLiRT variants cause more severe disease than previous strains?
  • Is it confirmed that the FLiRT variants make it easier for the virus to evade immunity from vaccines or previous Covid-19 bouts?

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

What should people know about the new coronavirus variant? A doctor explains.

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Katia Hetter Thursday, 23 May 2024 12:30
  • Unique Points
    • KP.2 does not cause more severe disease than previous strains.
    • Hospitalizations associated with Covid-19 are at record lows.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

New Covid FLiRT variants spark concerns of a summer spike

CNBC News Karen Gilchrist Wednesday, 22 May 2024 05:17
  • Unique Points
    • New Covid FLiRT variants are spreading globally and raising concerns of a possible summer spike in cases.
    • KP.2 is the dominant strain in the US, accounting for 28.2% of all cases as of May 11.
    • Cases of KP.1.1, another FLiRT variant, have also risen to account for 7.1% of current infections.
    • The new strains are descendants of the previously dominant JN.1 variant and have independently picked up the same set of mutations.
    • The World Health Organization has detected these new variants in 14 European countries with limited cases.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

84%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

3 Things to Know About FLiRT, the New Coronavirus Strains

Yale Medicine Kathy Katella Thursday, 23 May 2024 19:30
  • Unique Points
    • In April 2024, a group of new virus strains known as the FLiRT variants emerged, subvariants of Omicron.
    • The KP.2 strain accounted for 28.2% of COVID infections in the United States by the third week of May.
    • KP.1.1 made up 7.1% of cases and was another FLiRT variant.
    • These mutations could potentially make it easier for the virus to evade people’s immunity from vaccines or previous COVID bouts.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details about the new FLiRT variants and their potential impact on COVID cases, while ignoring other important information such as the decreasing viral activity in wastewater and the milder symptoms of JN.1 compared to earlier variants. The author also makes editorializing statements, such as 'the good news is that in the early spring of 2024, COVID-19 cases were down,' which goes beyond reporting facts.
    • The good news is that in the early spring of 2024, COVID-19 cases were down,
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or dichotomous fallacies are present. The author quotes Dr. Scott Roberts extensively and attributes his opinions on the FLiRT variants to him. This is a valid use of an appeal to authority when the expert being quoted is qualified in the field and their opinion adds value to the article. However, there are instances where the author uses inflammatory language such as 'wild card' and 'bit of a wild card' when describing SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations. This type of language can be seen as attempting to evoke strong emotions in readers, but it does not directly impact the validity or accuracy of the information presented in the article.
    • ][The SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a bit of a wild card, where it’s always difficult to predict what it will do next.][/And I’m guessing it will continue to mutate.][][If anything, he says the new mutations are confirmation that the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a bit of a wild card, where it’s always difficult to predict what it will do next.][/The author uses the phrase 'bit of a wild card' twice in this article to describe SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations. This language is intended to evoke feelings of uncertainty and unpredictability, but it does not directly impact the validity or accuracy of the information presented in the article.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

86%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

California’s COVID metrics rise as part of a national FLiRT uptick

The San Francisco Chronicle Aidin Vaziri Wednesday, 22 May 2024 20:00
  • Unique Points
    • COVID-19 is experiencing an uptick in California and a dozen other states according to CDC data.
    • The percentage of emergency department patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in California has increased over the past month.
    • Virus levels have climbed to medium or high levels across the Bay Area, with increases in 10 out of 12 sites monitored by The Chronicle’s COVID-19 wastewater surveillance tracker.
    • California’s latest coronavirus test positivity rate has risen to 3.2% from 2.1% in April.
    • Two factors contributing to the recent uptick are the increased transmissibility of new variants, FLiRT, and waning background immunity among people.
    • FLiRT variants KP.2 and KP.1.1 have surpassed their parent JN.1 strain as the dominant omicron offshoot in the US.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (35%)
    The article provides a relatively balanced view of the current COVID-19 situation in California and does not make any blatant misrepresentations. However, it does present some information deceptively by implying that the increase in COVID-19 cases is solely due to new variants without providing context on potential contributions from reduced testing or changes in behavior. The article also references CDC data on rising case numbers without disclosing that the data is based on preprint studies, which have not been peer reviewed.
    • The emergence of a new set of coronavirus variants referred to as FLiRT may be contributing to the recent uptick.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How safe are we from the new COVID variant FLiRT?

CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ CBS San Thursday, 23 May 2024 19:32
  • Unique Points
    • The article discusses the safety of the new COVID variant FLiRT
    • CBS News is a media outlet that provides various news shows and programs as stated in the article
  • Accuracy
    • ]The article discusses the safety of the new COVID variant FLiRT[
    • US World Politics, Entertainment, HealthWatch, MoneyWatch, Investigations, Crime, Space, Sports and Local News channels are mentioned in the article
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication