New Covid Variant KP.3 and Its Spread: What We Know

KP.3 is the name of the new Covid variant, mainly spreading in America. Closely monitored in the United States, according to the latest projections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it appears to be the most widespread version of Sars-CoV-2. But the trained eye of experts tracking the virus's mutants has already focused on its 'descendant,' KP.3.1.1. This sub-lineage might have 'wings,' in a sense. It certainly travels by plane. But also from Italy? Perhaps, some experts suggest. What do we know about this new variant? What are the symptoms? And the risks? Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, peak cases in Japan. What is the flu with a mortality rate of up to 30%? Contagion Map The database that collects viral sequences deposited by laboratories worldwide, Gisaid, 'now shows the KP.3.1.1 Covid sequences of travelers in US airports sent on June 11, 2024, with passenger origins' varying, 'including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, along with Spain,' the country that currently has the most, writes one of the many global 'variant hunters,' Andrea Urquhart, on X. 'KP.3.1.1 may have spread well beyond Spain,' he adds. From a quick search among the sequences, conducted by Italian experts for Adnkronos Salute, 'no sequences deposited in Gisaid from Italy are currently found,' notes Fabio Filippini, a PhD student at the Retrovirus Center of the University of Pisa, working with Mauro Pistello, director of the virology unit at the Pisa university hospital, and vice president of the Italian Society of Microbiology. Sequences 'Globally, there are 209 sequences' of KP.3.1.1 'deposited from June 3 to today,' explains the researcher. 'Mainly the data comes from Spain,' from Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia. 'There are also some from the US, a few from Canada,' he continues. But from a targeted search of US airport screenings on the date mentioned by Urquhart, there does not seem to be a passenger with Italy as the cited origin. 'Instead, there is a sequence taken on May 9, which according to visible information, would be from a passenger coming from Italy, a middle-aged woman,' adds the Italian variant hunter, Federico Gueli. Case detected by airport screening, State of Washington. 'Too little to already hypothesize circulation in our country - he points out - Being travelers, it could also be a person who made a double trip, Spain and then Italy, so from our country took the last flight and thus was registered.' Swabs and Research As for the absence of KP3.1.1 sequences from Italy at this time, it could be due to several reasons. 'For example, at this moment our work on variants has a monthly cadence,' Filippini points out. So if KP3.1.1 was intercepted on Italian soil in June, we might know more later. It's a relatively 'young' sub-variant, recently on the radar. The symptoms that accompany it could be mild, and since laboratories analyze swabs done in hospitals, it could initially escape the census. While perhaps, if it emerges from an airport screening, the sequences are immediately received. In short, it's too early to draw definitive conclusions, but some are ready to bet that this offspring of KP.3 will also stand out for its speed. 'Also due to a mutation that emerged during the 'Flip' lineages and EG.5.1 times, today paradoxically much more widespread in these new generations of variants, compared to then,' concludes Gueli. Alarm in the USA According to projections from the last 2 weeks (May 26-June 8), KP.3 - the latest version of Sars-CoV-2 to make its 'debut in society' - already represented 25% of Covid cases in the US, surpassing its 'sister' KP.2, at 22.5%. Both are descendants of JN.1, a strain indicated by international organizations for upcoming vaccines. 'KP.3 will soon be the dominant variant in the US,' observes scientist Eric Topol, executive vice president at Scripps Research, on X. And many US experts, as reported by newsweek, warn of a 'potential summer wave.' Updated Vaccines As the Sars-CoV-2 scenario continues to evolve, and summer is approaching, last week in the States, the debate on how to update the vaccines that citizens will receive in the fall was addressed. For the consultants of the American drug agency FDA, according to US media, the 'ingredient' to focus on is JN.1. But companies, already seeing the new descendants pushing to make their way, have not been idle and have explored the qualities of an even more 'updated' vaccine, a vaccine targeting KP.2 and which, as also reported by Topol, seems capable of increasing neutralizing antibody titers against the current most common variant overseas, KP.3, by more than 3 times compared to a JN.1 vaccine in mice. Two companies, Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, have tested KP.2 vaccines. Moderna, according to material reviewed by FDA consultants, said it is ready in both cases, either to submit for approval a JN.1 vaccine or a KP.2 one and would provide doses to the US market by mid-August if recommended by the FDA. Pfizer/BioNTech also stated that they are prepared to start supplying a vaccine - either for JN.1 or KP.2 - immediately after approval. The JN.1 Line Having to choose now, experts reiterate the JN.1 line. 'The committee unanimously voted to recommend a monovalent vaccine composition of the JN.1 line - was the final note -. After the vote, it discussed considerations for selecting a specific strain of the JN.1 lineage (e.g., JN.1 or KP.2) and expressed a strong preference for JN.1. Based on the totality of the evidence, the FDA informed manufacturers that the Covid vaccines to be used in the United States starting from fall 2024 should be anti-JN.1 to more faithfully match the currently circulating versions of Sars-CoV-2.' Symptoms According to the CDC, the main symptoms to watch out for are: - Fever or chills - Cough - Shortness of breath - Fatigue - Muscle or body aches - Headache - Loss of taste or smell - Sore throat - Runny nose - Nausea or vomiting - Diarrhea