Covid-19 FLiRT variant is one of the newest variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The name FLiRT is an abbreviation for "Fast-spreading, Linked to Receptor-binding domain, and Threonine mutation," which refers to the specific characteristics of this variant. This variant was first detected in early 2024 and has the ability to spread faster and evade the body's immune response.

Andy Pekosz, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that this variant is a descendant of the JN.1 variant that has been dominant in the US for the past few months. FLiRT has mutations in the spike protein that increase the virus's efficiency in infecting human cells.

The following 'Bahasa' text translated to 'English' while preserving any html tags: "The FLiRT variant has caused a surge in Covid-19 cases in various states in the US. Hospitals are starting to be overwhelmed with the increase in patients requiring intensive care. Subvariant KP.2 of FLiRT now accounts for about 25% of total Covid-19 cases in the US, making it the current dominant variant."

Fever or chillsCoughSore throatStuffy or runny noseHeadacheMuscle painDifficulty breathingFatigueLoss of taste or smellBrain fog (difficulty focusing and concentrating)Gastrointestinal symptoms (stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting)

According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an individual's immunity level to the FLiRT variant depends on the variant they were previously infected with. Infection with the JN.1 variant provides better protection against FLiRT compared to previous variants.