COVID has taken different forms, globally creating a mass phenomenon of new waves of infections and mutations. This year has been no exception. We have a new entry: KP.2. It is now notorious for causing sudden infections in the US with experts fearing that this virus would be much more immune than its past counterparts.
There has been a surge of cases in the US going up as high as 25%. The UK has not been left unscathed with its percentage at 20. There are talks of this number increasing exponentially in the next few months. The cycle of these viruses is simple: replication and mutation. Survival of the fittest is its motto and they do it best. This summer heat, could mean a growing population of this now distinct virus family! Symptoms are same more or less, which are sore throat, cough, fatigue, congestion, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhoea, vomiting), muscle aches, headache, fever, chills and difficulty breathing.
KP.1.1 and KP.2 are the novel sub variants of the omicron variant. Also known as the FLiRT variants, FL is for the former mutation and RT for the latter one. When compared between the two, KP.2 has the upper hand over KP.1.1. There is worry that the unvaccinated groups and immune compromised individuals might be severely affected.
Nivea Vaz
Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara
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