Ukraine detects first three cases of new FLiRT coronavirus strain
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Ukraine has registered its first cases of a new sub-variant of the Omicron coronavirus, known as FLiRT, Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin announced on Telegram on Aug. 5.
Three cases of the new FLiRT strain of COVID-19 were detected in July, with two in Kyiv and one in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, the Ministry of Health reported. The infected individuals are two women and one man, all over the age of 60.
The FLiRT strain, a derivative of the Omicron variant, features specific mutations in the spike protein that enhance its ability to bind to cells and evade the immune response. This makes the FLiRT strain particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems and increases the risk of infection even among those previously vaccinated.
"Available studies show that current vaccines, including boosters, remain effective in protecting against severe forms of COVID-19, although they cannot completely prevent infection with the new strain," the Ministry of Health stated.
The Kyiv City State Administration reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in the capital on July 29, with an average of about 20 people being hospitalized daily. Since the beginning of the year, 52 people have died from coronavirus in Kyiv.
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