XEC to FLiRT; what you need to know about recent Covid variants

Covid-19 continues to evolve with fresh mutations in the virus' spike protein. As the latest variant XEC is set to become dominant in some time, here's a look at recent Covid variants that made news for increasing number of cases, in recent times.

Covid XEC is a recombinant or hybrid variant of Omicron subvariants - KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. With at least one additional mutation in its spike protein, the strain is more efficient at infecting people and could have more flu-like symptoms, which could 'wipe people out', as per experts. The strain is speculated to become a dominant strain in winter. It was first discovered in Germany in June, but has now spread across US, UK and other countries.

The term FLiRT describes not just one strain, but an entire family of variants including KP. 2, JN. 1.7, and any other variants that start from KP or JN. The FLirT variants belong to Omicron lineage and show milder symptoms like their predecessors. The symptoms associated with FLirT variants are fever, cough, fatigue, loss of smell or taste, are some of the symptoms described by the Johns Hopkins University.

First found in March this year, it dominated in the summer wave that raged across USA. It is part of FLiRT variant and the change in its spike protein increased the virus's ability to infect cells efficiently and evade immune system. Symptoms associated this variant include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

It was first identified in September last year and reigned over till May this year. JN.1.7 together with KP variants made a team called FLiRT. The difference between JN.1 and its predecessors are only one or two amino acid changes. After exposure to the virus, it took five or more days before symptoms developed. The symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, headache or an upset stomach.

Another member of the FliRT group, KP.2 was causing 28% of infections in early May, overtaking JN.1 as the dominant variant. Both Moderna and Pfizer have received approval for vaccines that target the KP.2 variant. These vaccines are updated to better match the Covid strains that are currently circulating.