COVID-19 strain FLiRT enters Russia

Rospotrebnadzor, the leading authority in monitoring the COVID-19 situation, has predicted an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 after the holidays. This is due to the many contacts people have during the festive season. The agency is diligently monitoring the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout Russia. Globally, the Omicron genovariant continues to be the most prevalent.

Meanwhile, a few new genovariants were identified.

“Over the entire monitoring period, 178 cases of new FLiRT variants were identified, including variants KP.2 (three cases), KP.1.1 (five cases), and KS.1 (170 cases). All of them do not pose any more danger than its other varieties. The symptoms of FLiRT variants are similar to Omicron—fever, cough, sore throat, weakness, headache, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell,” explained Rospotrebnadzor.

Author: Daria Subbotina