COVID-19 cases continue to rise as a new variant FluQE wreaks havoc on Aussies this winter. or signup to continue reading The 'FLiRT' sublineages, including KP.2 and KP.
3, stem from , which dominated infections early this year. KP.2 made up around 50 per cent of COVID-19 infections in NSW up until May 4, according to The found KP.
3 and other JN.1 variants were in wastewater in "increasing abundance" in their May 17 report. The World Health Organisation classified these subvariants as But KP.
3, nicknamed FLuQE, has now become the fastest-growing member of the family. It has an extra mutation researchers say which makes it more infectious. And it's that extra mutation that has led to its own catchy subvariant nickname.
It is now the dominant strain in several countries including Australia. University of New South Wales associate professor Stuart Turville told ACM FLuQE has a "competitive edge" because of two main factors. "It has the ability to navigate antibodies better than other variants and it also is more efficient in the way it can engage entry factors which allows it to stick to the cell," he said.
But Prof Turville noted it was not a "seismic change" to COVID-19 variants. "The way that I see it it, is an iterative change, this isn't a jump, it is a virus month-by-month small changes in its outer coat ( the spike) and it is doing it to navigate, to be more competitive," he said. Prof Turville said "vulnerable populations such as the elderly" should take precautions.
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