Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is tracking the new Covid variant KP.3 as data shows its dominance in the United States.
“CDC is tracking SARS-CoV-2 variant KP.3. For the two-week period ending June 8, 2024, CDC anticipates that KP.3 is increasing and will become the most common SARS-CoV-2 lineage nationally,” Rosa Norman, a CDC spokesperson, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “(Our agency) is working to better understand its potential impact on public health.”
For the two-week period beginning May 26 and ending June 8, data from the government agency shows that KP.3 accounts for 25% of Covid cases in the US and is now the dominant variant. It surpasses the previous leader, the JN.1 variant, which swept the world last winter. KP.2 follows right behind KP.3 and now accounts for 22.5% of cases.
CDC The Nowcast Data Tracker is used to project COVID variants over a two-week period. The CDC said this tool is used to help estimate the current spread of variants, but it does not predict the future spread of the virus.
Although nowcast data highlights predictions for Kp.3, CDC wants the public to know that infection rates may be lower than we expect.
“Currently, it is estimated that KP.3 viruses make up 16% to 37% of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the United States,” Norman said. “Most key COVID-19 indicators are showing low levels of activity nationally, so the total number of infections caused by this lineage is likely underreported.”
Norman also said COVID-related deaths and hospitalizations have remained low since March 2020.
Here’s what the CDC wants you to know about the KP.3 variant.
Covid variants you need to know about:KP.3 now accounts for 25% of Covid cases
What is the KP.3 variant?
Like JN.1 and the “FLiRT” variants KP.1.1 and KP.2, KP.3 is a similar strain. Norman explains that the KP.3 variant is “a sub-lineage of the JN.1 lineage” that comes from the Omicron variant.
“KP.3 evolved from JN.1, which has been the dominant viral lineage circulating since December 2023,” Norman said. “It is very similar to JN.1 and has only two changes compared to JN.1.”
What are the symptoms of KP3?
Norman says the symptoms associated with KP.3 are similar to those of JN.1. These include:
- fever or chills
- cough
- sore throat
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Tiredness
- New loss of taste or smell
- “Brain fog” (feeling less awake and aware)
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea, vomiting)
The CDC says this list does not include all possible symptoms and that symptoms can change with new variants and vary by person.
In general, the agency says, People with COVID-19 have a variety of symptomsIllness ranges from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after infection.
What changes in infection rates have been observed with the KP.3 variant?
Norman explained how KP.3 has two spikes, also known as the rate of infection, which is different from the JN.1 variant.
“One of the two changes in the spike was recently seen in earlier lineages, including the XBB.1.5 lineage, which was dominant in 2023 and the basis for the 2023-2024 vaccine development,” he said. “The second of the two changes was seen in some viruses circulating in the autumn of 2021, but not since then.”
How can we protect ourselves if we are concerned about the KP.3 variant?
Norman recommends that all children aged 6 months and above should get the COVID-19 vaccine in 2023-2024. He said that this vaccine will help prevent any serious illness caused by COVID.
When will the next nowcast predictions be available?
Norman said the next forecast, which will cover the two-week time period from June 9 to June 22, can be found on the CDC website. covid data tracker On 22nd June.
The target of the COVID-19 vaccine will be JN.1
The KP.3 variant’s emergence as a prominent variant comes after an FDA panel met last week to discuss COVID vaccine updates for the fall.
during Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory CommitteeHealth experts from vaccine makers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax told the panel they are prepared to make JN.1-targeted vaccines available in August, pending FDA approval.
The updated vaccines will be released in the autumn, ahead of an expected surge in Covid-19 cases in the winter.
“The FDA and CDC are working together to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against the current strain of the virus,” Norman said.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Gabe Howery
Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY’s national trending team. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lotteries and public policy stories. Email her aforbes@gannett.com.follow him Instagram, Threads And X (Twitter),
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