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Maharashtra has recently witnessed a rise in COVID-19 cases due to the emergence of the new Omicron subvariant KP.2. According to TN reports , there have been a total of 91 cases of the KP.2 subvariant in the state. Pune has reported 51 of these cases, while Thane has reported 20 cases. The KP.2 variant, first detected in January, has now become the dominant strain in the United States and has been spreading rapidly across Maharashtra since its identification.
Apart from Pune and Thane, other districts in Maharashtra have also reported cases of the KP.2 variant. Seven cases each have been identified in Amravati and Aurangabad, while Solapur had two cases. Additionally, Ahmednagar, Nashik, Latur, and Sangli each reported one case of the KP.2 variant. This variant is a descendant of the JN.1 strain, which was dominant towards the end of 2023.
The KP.2 variant is part of a group of mutants known as FLiRT, which also includes the KP.1.1 variant. Together, these variants are responsible for nearly one-fourth of COVID-19 cases in the US. FLiRT variants are direct descendants of the JN.1 strain.
Symptoms of the FLiRT variants, including KP.2, are similar to those of previous COVID-19 variants. These symptoms include fever or chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, and headache.
Experts have noted that the KP.2 variant is the fastest-spreading variant in the US and has overtaken the JN.1 variant. However, they are still studying whether it is as contagious and deadly as its predecessors. Changes in the spike protein of the virus, which are important for its ability to infect and make people sick, have been observed in the FLiRT variants.
The KP.2 variant, also known as JN.1.11.1.2, has three substitutions in the spike protein compared to the JN.1 variant. According to a study, the reproduction number of KP.2 is higher than that of JN.1 in several countries, but its infectivity is significantly lower.
Dr. Rajesh Karyakarte, the state's genome sequencing coordinator, has stated that by March and April, the KP.2 variant had become the predominant strain in Maharashtra. However, there hasn't been a proportional increase in hospitalizations or serious cases associated with this variant.
Dr. Karyakarte also mentioned, "KP.2 will gradually spread to every part of the world, but we don't foresee any potential major threat. Its behavior is likely to be the same as JN.1."
As of now, Maharashtra has 41 active COVID-19 cases, with four new cases detected out of 374 tests carried out. The state continues to monitor the situation closely and take necessary measures to control the spread of the virus.
