KP.3: All About Covid's Newest Strain

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A new COVID-19 variant called KP.3 has gained dominance in the United States

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KP.3 is part of a family of mutated strains nicknamed "FLiRT," which are driving an increasing proportion of cases across the US

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The FLiRT strains — which include KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1 — now account for more than half of all COVID-19 infections in the US

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KP.3 is one of the FLiRT variants — along with KP.2 and KP.1.1 — which are spinoffs of JN.1.11.1, a direct descendant of JN.1

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KP.3 and the other new variants have additional mutations that set them apart from JN.1

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The nickname "FLiRT" is based on the technical names for their mutations

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The symptoms of the FLiRT variants are similar to those caused by JN.1

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It includes sore throat, cough, fatigue, congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, fever or chills, loss of taste and smell, nausea, diarrhea

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Early laboratory studies indicate that the vaccines will continue to provide protection the FLiRT variants

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