It’s not only a so-called “brat summer,” 2024 is also turning out to be a FLiRT summer — as in the collection of COVID-19 variants driving the latest summer wave.
Based on wastewater sample data, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention reports that COVID levels have increased in most states nationwide. In fact, nationally the CDC labels wastewater viral activity level for COVID is currently labeled as “high,” with the Western and Southern regions displaying the most alarming levels of activity. Wastewater testing — or collecting samples of pathogens in our feces — is the current standard to monitor the national and regional spread of COVID. According to the CDC, the summer started with a steady decline in cases caused by the JN.1 variant. But now, KP.3, KP.3.1.1., and KP.2, known as the “FLiRT variants” have increased. KP.3 ranks most prevalent as of July 20 and makes up an estimated 32.9% of cases across the country.
