Russia has identified 178 cases of the new variant of coronavirus FLiRT

RUSSIA has recorded 178 cases of the new FLiRT coronavirus variant, the Rospotrebnadzor press service told RIA Novosti.

“During the entire monitoring period, 178 cases of new FLiRT variants were identified, including variants KP.2 (three cases), KP.1.1 (five cases), KS.1 (170 cases),” the report says.

The department noted that the new variants of coronavirus that were discovered do not pose a greater danger than other types.

The FLiRT variants are distant relatives of the dominant JN.1 variant, all of which belong to the Omicron family, according to the Rospotrebnadzor website. Symptoms of the disease caused by the FLiRT variant include fever,cough , stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell.

Scientists interviewed by the Financial Times have suggested that covid-19  cases may have increased this summer due to this strain. According to the World HEALTH Organization, FLiRT variants (the word comes from the names of mutations in the genetic code of the strains) have already been detected in 14 European countries, as well as in Israel. FLiRT is also the dominant strain in the United States .