a new Corona virus variant named kp. 3.1.1 has risen to dominance in the US almost doubling in prevalence in just two weeks the Centers for Disease Control and prevention reports experts are warning that the new variant which as of August 3rd accounts for more than one in four us covid-19 cases is more of a challenge to our immune systems compared to previous variants the new variant is a sublineage of the previously dominant kp3 which rose to prominence at the end of May together kp. 3.1.1 and kp3 account for almost half of all covid-19 cases in the US as the virus continues to spread amid a summer wave of infections both kp. 3.1.1 and kp3 belong to a new class of variants nicknamed the flirt variants they are named after the mutations in the projections on the virus surface that allow them to enter our cells these projections known as Spike proteins are also used as targets by our immune systems and vaccinations according to early analysis that has not been peer-reviewed kp. 3.1.1 is significantly more infectious than previous variants including kp3 it may also be better at evading our immune systems and Immunity conveyed by existing vaccines in a post on X formerly Twitter Eric topal a professor of molecular medicine at scrips research said that the new variant was more of a challenge to our immune response than kp3 and prior variants buckle up this wave isn't over yet due to kp. 3.1.1 emergence he added in another post the rise of kp. 3.1.1 follows a surge in covid-19 detection in Wastewater surveys around the US with very high levels being detected in 20 States according to the the CDC however while the CDC has reported a steady increase in infections across the US in recent weeks hospitalizations remain relatively low from what we have seen so far the new flirt variants while more infectious do not generally cause severe symptoms still it is important to isolate yourself from others if you begin to develop symptoms according to the CDC symptoms include the following 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 Lawrence Young a virus expert and professor of molecular oncology at the UDOT K University of Warwick previously told Newsweek we need to keep monitoring the spread of this variant