It is clear that SARS-CoV-2, the agent of the Covid-19 epidemic, is here to stay. Like influenza, an easily transmissible respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2 mutates to evade the immune system of those who have been previously vaccinated, infected, or both. The question remains: how dangerous is each new version of SARS-CoV-2? Again, like the Flu, if you have been previously vaccinated, infected, or both, new variants are not so dangerous, but if you have not, emerging versions of SARS-CoV-2 could be life-threatening for those vulnerable.
As Summer approaches, another series of new strains is on the horizon. While these are derived from the original Omicron and share many similarities, they are sufficiently different to spark a new wave of Covid-19 cases.
One new variant, KP.2, could lead the surge during the upcoming summer. This recently identified variant is mainly spreading in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with rising levels in Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. As of now, there have been 1,816 reported cases of KP.2 in the GISAID SARS-CoV-2 database, indicating that potentially thousands, if not tens of thousands, of individuals, have already been infected with this variant, as sequencing efforts have been significantly limited in recent years.