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What is FLiRT, the group of new COVID-19 variants that have landed in Australia?
A new family of COVID-19 strains, nicknamed "FLiRT", are spreading across the world, and have arrived in Australia.
While it was only recorded for the first time five months ago, one of the subvariants has already become dominant in the United States, indicating they are highly transmissible.
This is what you need to know about the FLiRT strains of COVID-19.
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What is the FLiRT variant?
FLiRT is the name given to an entire family of COVID-19 subvariants that are gaining dominance.
They've evolved from the JN.1 subvariant, which emerged late in 2023 and caused a spike in infections earlier this year.
The strains include KP.2, KP.3, JN.1.7 and a whole range of others which typically start with either "JN" or "KP".
KP.2, in particular, is spreading st
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New, more infectious COVID-19 variant FLuQE overtaking FLiRT in Australia
Just a couple of months after a new family of COVID-19 strains named FLiRT arrived in Australia, health authorities are warning a new, more infectious subvariant is taking over.
Nicknamed FLuQE, the new sub-variant of the FLiRT family is similar to its predecessors but contains a new mutation which disease experts say makes it more infectious.
The FLiRT family are all descendants of the JN.1 variant, which caused a wave of infections across Australia and other nations at the start of the year.
READ MORE:Whooping cough cases surge in News South Wales and Queensland
Now, there are fears that the more infectious FLuQE subvariant will produce a new wave of rising infections.
Data from NSW Health shows the first cases of the subvariant FLuQE were first recorded in the state in late March.
By late May - just two months later - FLuQE had already taken over as the dominant variant circu
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FLiRT, the spanking COVID-causing subvariants sweeping representation US, plot been perceived in Australia
In short: A new of COVID-causing subvariants comprehensive through rendering US has arrived pen Australia.
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