18 May,2024 06:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Officials have advised citizens to wear masks, wash hands often, and keep distance while voting. Representation pic
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As Mumbai prepares for Monday's voting, amidst concerns of the KP.2 Omicron variant causing a surge in COVID-19 cases, health experts advise individuals with respiratory infections to wear masks while voting to prevent potential spread. Although Mumbai currently has no reported cases of the new variant, neighbouring Pune has accounted for 51 out of 91 cases reported in the state.
"Numerous flu vaccine options are available annually in the US from August to November, but the priority remains ensuring that everyone aged six months and older receives a flu vaccine each year. Examples include Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent, and Fluad Quadrivalent, among others. Additionally, there are Influenza A vaccines," said Dr Subhash Hira, professor of Global Health, University of Washington and member of WHO pandemic panels.
Since March 2024, FLiRT COVID variants, spreading rapidly in the US, have been detected in India, with 91 cases of the Omicron subvariant KP.2 reported in Maharashtra. FLiRT variants, including KP.2 and KP.1.1, account for a significant portion of US cases, with FLiRT being named based on their mutations. While concerns about a new wave persist, virologists like Dr David Ho from Columbia University are cautiously optimistic, although KP.2 shows potential to infect even vaccinated individuals, as per a study from Japan.
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"Are there any specific symptoms? The symptoms of FLiRT variants are similar to those of JN.1. Individuals should be careful about symptoms like sore throat, runny nose, coughing, head and body aches, fever, congestion, fatigue and in severe cases, shortness of breath. Many individuals might also have symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting," said Dr Hira.
Precautions when voting
"This FLiRT cluster of mutants can transmit rapidly among adults having respiratory illnesses, and schoolchildren who have yet not been vaccinated. Both vulnerable groups should wear face masks whenever exposed to open air and travel, especially when they go for voting on Monday, which should not be missed," said Dr Hira.
Dr Wiqar Shaikh, professor of medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, said, "91 cases of the new variant KP.2 of the COVID-19 Omicron virus have been reported from Maharashtra. Of these, Pune reported 51 cases and Thane 20 cases. However, no cases have been reported from Mumbai as yet."
"KP.2 was initially detected worldwide in January 2024 and has globally been the predominant variant of COVID-19. FLiRT is the nickname given to KP.2, based on the first letters of the two escape mutations that allow the virus to evade antibodies in human beings," added Dr Wiqar Shaikh.
"According to WHO, there have been 1.25 lakh new cases of COVID-19 worldwide in April 2024, of which Russia reported 54,400 cases, Australia 18,500, New Zealand 11,200, China 5,700, and the UK 4,700. Despite these figures and the emergence of KP.2 in Maharashtra, there is no need to be alarmed because globally, COVID-19 cases have decreased greatly since January 2023," said Dr Shaikh.
Dr. Shaikh added, "INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) reported 232 cases of KP.2 and 30 cases of KP.1 in India as of May 6. The symptoms of KP.2 are sore throat, runny nose, coughing, headache, body ache, fever, and fatigue. KP.2 is more transmissible than its predecessors but is less virulent and no new vaccines are recommended.
"New variants of COVID designated as Flirt are spreading in our country. However, the clinical features are not severe enough to be worrisome. The COVID-19 omicron subvariant KP2 has been identified in Maharashtra. Another mutant is KP 1. Together, these are designated as Flirt. Citizens should seek medical advice even if they experience the mildest of symptoms. Preventive measures include meticulous wearing of a mask, avoidance of crowded places, social distancing and hand hygiene," said Dr Ketan Vagholkar, Professor of Surgery, DY Patil Medical College.
91
No. of cases in Maharashtra
