FLiRT variant is here.

This was confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) who said that the COVID-19 subvariant KP.2, also known as “FLiRT” variants, has been detected in the Philippines.

According to DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, the earliest sample collection date for KP.2 in the country is in May 2024.

“It may be likely that there are earlier KP.2 cases, but because of limited sequencing we have not detected and reported this earlier,” he said. 

The said subvariant of KP.2 is a currently circulating variant under monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

It is a descendant of the JN.1, a variant of interest that was responsible for the infection increase earlier this year. 

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