Will we be FLiRTing with a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus this summer?

This summer brings us not only heatwaves, but it seems a new wave of COVID-19 as well. It is expected that all of Europe will soon be FLiRTing with a new variant of the virus.

About coronaviruses and the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause respiratory infections in humans, ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and most recently, COVID-19. They are named after the crown-like spikes on their surface. (***)

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first recorded in December 2019, in Wuhan (China). Since then, the virus has spread rapidly to countries around the world. On March 11, 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and on May 5, 2023, the WHO announced the end of it as a public health emergency. (***)

However, the virus continues to circulate in communities, as evidenced by the numerous mutations it has undergone, remaining a potentially serious health risk.

Recent variants of the virus

Omicron was a variant of SARS-CoV-2 that began developing its own subvariants. One of these was JN.1, which was identified in September 2023. JN.1 also has descendants, with the FLiRT subvariants being derivatives of JN.1.11.1. (Katella, 2024)

In America, in April 2024, the FLiRT variants (the name is based on the technical designations of the KP.2 and KP.3 mutations) began to spread, followed in June by a subvariant known as LB.1, also a descendant of JN.1. (Katella, 2024)

The FLiRT variants have two mutations on their spike proteins that were not seen in JN.1. Some experts argue that these mutations could make it easier for the virus to bypass the human immune system (due to vaccination or previous COVID infection). (Katella, 2024)

The LB.1 variant and another variant called KP.2.3, which also has the two FLiRT mutations plus an additional one, may be even more transmissible than previous ones. (Katella, 2024)

Considering that the variants are genetically similar to JN.1, it should be reassuring, given that its symptoms have been milder than those caused by previous variants, says Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale Medicine. (Katella, 2024)

In Greece and possibly Bulgaria, cases of infection with the FliRT variant are rising, and it is expected to become dominant in Europe within a month. (***, 2024)

Symptoms of COVID-19 infection

Infection with the FLiRT variants “does not lead to a severe progression of the disease, but it should not be underestimated either. It is a systemic disease that appears with fever, chills, headache, and sore throat, often even with diarrhea. In some patients, loss of smell can also be observed. The danger is related to thrombosis. The virus affects the inner lining of the arteries, and when it is damaged, clots form easily,” notes Prof. Hristova from Bulgaria. (***, 2024)

Dr. William Schaffner, Medical Director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, believes that in addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the following may also be present: cough, fatigue, nasal congestion and runny nose, muscle aches, loss of taste, nausea and vomiting, or difficulty breathing. (Kee, 2024) These can last for a few days, but in some cases, even longer.

Prevention methods

Considering that the virus spreads through the air, by coughing and sneezing, and through contact with an infected person or surface, the best prevention methods, both for you and for those around you, are (***, 2024):

• Proper hand hygiene, taking care to wash them for at least 20 seconds and to use sanitizer whenever washing is not possible
• Do not touch your eyes, mouth, and nose without having clean hands
• Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Avoid crowded areas and contact with people who are sick, and wear a mask if you are the one infected and cannot stay home, in order to protect those around you (remember that anyone who is infected can spread the virus, even if they DO NOT show symptoms)
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched and potentially contaminated objects and surfaces
• Ventilate your home or use devices that filter indoor air
• Get vaccinated
• Get tested if you know you have been in contact with an infected person or if you show symptoms, and contact your family doctor to receive the appropriate treatment

Elderly people and those with associated chronic diseases (heart, respiratory, liver conditions, diabetes, obesity, etc.) have a higher risk of developing more severe symptoms, which is why prevention is extremely important. (***)

At this moment, the majority of the population has some immunity due to previous infections and vaccination, but even so, it is still necessary not to give up on applying prevention methods, especially since the SARS-CoV-2 virus will likely be present in our lives for a long time to come.

Bibliography

***. Retrieved from https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/coronavirus

***. Retrieved from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19

***. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.segabg.com/hot/category-zdrave/silno-zarazna-mutaciya-na-covid-19-napadna-gurciya

***. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.segabg.com/hot/category-zdrave/i-u-nas-kovid-e-podem-no-oshte-nyama-dokazan-flirt

***. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Katella, K. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/3-things-to-know-about-flirt-new-coronavirus-strains

Kee, C. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus/new-covid-variant-symptoms-2024-flirt-rcna150072

Photo source: Shutterstock