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Shocking New ‘FLiRT’ Variants Spark Summer COVID Surge Alert!







The Threat of FLiRT: A New Wave of COVID Infections

The Threat of FLiRT: A New Wave of COVID Infections

Introduction

In recent weeks, COVID-19 forecasters have raised alarms about a new set of variants detected in wastewater monitoring. Nicknamed “Flirt,” these variants pose a serious threat of causing a resurgence of COVID infections. This comes at a time when infection rates had recently stabilized after a surge in December.

Expert Predictions

Data scientist Jay Weiland, known for accurately predicting COVID waves, has warned of an impending surge. Experts like Dr. Megan L. Ranney of the Yale School of Public Health are closely following Weiland’s projections, highlighting the credibility of these forecasts.

Risks of FLiRT Variant

FLiRT exhibits concerning features, including changes in the spike protein crucial for the virus’s ability to infect and make individuals sick. With only 22% of American adults fully vaccinated, the population remains vulnerable to reinfection, heightening the susceptibility to a new wave of infections.

Challenges Ahead

Dr. Thomas A. Russo, an infectious diseases expert, emphasizes the population’s waning immunity and the potential inadequacy of current boosters against the FLiRT variant. Studies suggest that the latest booster may not provide sufficient protection against the dominant JN.1 variant, raising concerns about future outbreaks.

Preventing a Summer Surge

As experts anticipate a summer wave of infections, staying updated with vaccinations is crucial. The CDC advises timely booster doses for optimal protection, especially for high-risk individuals. Continuous monitoring and adherence to preventive measures remain key in combating future outbreaks.

Long-Term Implications

Aside from acute infections, the rise of long COVID poses significant challenges. Studies highlight the increasing prevalence of debilitating long-term symptoms among COVID survivors, underscoring the importance of vaccination in preventing lingering health issues.

Conclusion

It is imperative to approach the threat of FLiRT and potential COVID surges with seriousness and vigilance. By prioritizing vaccination, following preventive guidelines, and considering innovative treatment options, individuals can contribute to mitigating the impact of future outbreaks.


In conclusion, the emergence of the FLiRT variant poses a significant risk of triggering a new wave of COVID infections. Experts warn of the challenges posed by waning immunity, vaccine efficacy against evolving variants, and the growing prevalence of long COVID. By staying informed, prioritizing vaccination, and adopting preventive measures, individuals can play a crucial role in safeguarding public health and curbing the potential impact of future outbreaks.


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April 30, 2024 – In recent weeks, COVID-19 forecasters have reported a new set of variants detected in wastewater monitoring. Nicknamed FlirtThey threaten to cause a new wave of COVID infections, which recently bottomed out after surging in December.

Models released last week from Jay Weiland, a data scientist who has accurately predicted COVID waves since the start of the pandemic, warns that a surge is on the horizon. “He’s someone that a lot of experts like me follow because he’s been pretty accurate so far,” he said. Megan L. Ranney, MD, dean of the Yale School of Public Health.

Ripe for reinfection

What’s more, Ranney said, FLiRT also has some worrying features, such as changes in the spike protein, which play a role in helping SARS-CoV-2, the The virus that causes COVID-19 takes hold, colonizes the body and makes people sick.

The vulnerability of the host is another worrying factor, given that only 22% of American adults have received the latest COVID vaccine. And since many people may not have had the virus for a while, they are ripe for reinfection.

“We have a population of people with waning immunity, which increases our susceptibility to a wave,” he said. Thomas A. Russo Md, cboss of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

There is also some worrying data showing that even those who have received the most recent COVID booster may not be well protected against a potential surge. TO prepress A study published this week by researchers at Harvard University shows compelling evidence that the newest booster does not hold up well against JN.1, the most recent dominant variant, and its FLiRT offshoots. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

JN.1 It spread globally over the winter and still accounts for 95% of COVID cases in the US. Its lineage is the Omicron variant, which has been circulating in some form since 2021. Still, new variants can quickly take hold. JN.1 accounted for almost none of the cases in mid-November, but quickly jumped to 21% in December and 85% for the third week of January.

In recent years, COVID waves have also fallen at a predictable rate, with a large winter wave and a smaller peak in mid- to late summer, largely because people spend so much time in airy indoor environments. conditioning and poor ventilation as the weather. the outdoors gets hot, Russo said.

“Considering all of these factors, if I were to look into my crystal ball, I would say we are going to have another wave or surge of cases and hospitalizations at some point this summer,” he said.

Protecting against a summer surge

Although there are questions about how the new booster will hold up against the latest variants, staying up to date with vaccines is still the best way to protect yourself. For those who have not received the last booster dose, time is of the essence. And for those over 65 or immunocompromised, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends receiving a second updated COVID booster 4 months after your last booster.

“Assuming the virus continues to evolve and our immunity wanes, the general population will likely continue to need an annual booster to protect themselves,” Ranney said.

And many experts said we need to take the virus more seriously. In general, if you are sick, don’t go to work, go out, or travel, and take time to recover so you don’t make everyone around you sick. He Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people stay home and isolate themselves until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone and overall symptoms have improved. And if you’re in a crowded, poorly ventilated area, a mask is still a simple and effective protective tool.

New treatments such as monoclonal antibody pemgardawhich the FDA granted emergency use authorization in March, may also help protect those who are particularly vulnerable to a spring or summer surge, he said Shirin Mazumder, MD, infectious disease doctor at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis. The medication should be taken as a preventive measure for anyone who is moderately to severely immunocompromised. The medication is administered intravenously.before a patient’s possible exposure to COVID. It is designed for those who are unlikely to develop sufficient immunity and may need more protection against the virus.

“It’s another tool that can help people in addition to getting vaccinated and taking other precautions,” he said. Mazumder.

The increasing risk of long COVID

Vaccination is also important for protection against long COVID, according to a March 2024 study published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. And for Grace McComsey, MD, who leads the long-running COVID RECOVER study at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, what’s most alarming isn’t the risk of acute illness.

He said long COVID is becoming the biggest problem for those who may not have been as afraid of acute COVID. Research published by The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently showed that many of those who end up with long COVID, a chronic illness marked by fatigue, mental confusion, and heart and lung problems, they did not necessarily have a serious attack of infection.

The number of long COVID cases is also increasing: 6.8% of Americans report long COVID symptoms, up from 5.3% in 2022. In total, 17.6% said they had had it at some point , according to a survey by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Long COVID is what I would be most concerned about right now, given that its numbers are increasing and it can lead to chronic illness even if an acute infection wouldn’t,” he said. McComsey.

We don’t know for sure what this variant will do, but we do know that COVID has so far been great at spreading disease and evading immunity. It’s hard to know for sure whether this is the next variant that will take hold or not, but if it’s not this one, another variant surely will, McComsey said.

“We need to respect this virus and take it seriously, because whether we like it or not, it’s here and it’s still making people very sick,” he said.



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