LONDON — New strains of Covid-19 are spreading globally, raising concerns among health professionals about a possible summer spike in cases, four-and-a-half years since the onset of the pandemic.
The FLiRT variants — whose label derives from the names of the mutations in the variants' genetic code — have been rising in the U.S. and Europe as the coronavirus continues to mutate from earlier strains.
Cases of KP.1.1, another FLiRT variant, have also risen to account for 7.1% of current infections, the agency said.
In Europe, too, cases have been rising, with the new variant now detected in 14 countries.
The World Health Organization in its latest update earlier this month said that cases remain limited in all reporting countries.
Persons:
John
Organizations:
omicron, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization
Locations:
U.S, Europe