PHA confirms new Covid 'FLiRT' variant in Northern Ireland

The Public Health Agency says a new variant of Covid named 'FLiRT' has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

Six cases of the variant also known as ‘KP.2’ have been identified so far, while cases have also been detected in the Republic of Ireland.

A statement from the PHA on Thursday evening read: "COVID-19 infection can cause more serious illness in older people and in people with certain underlying health conditions.

"For these reasons they are being offered a spring booster of the vaccine to ensure they have the best protection against future waves of infection.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly evolving, with new variants arising frequently. Some of these can become dominant and could cause further waves of infection.

"Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent or reduce the impact of infectious diseases, as they teach our immune system to recognise and fight viruses."

It then went into more detail on the discovery of the latest variant.

"One of the most recent variants of the virus to develop, named KP.2 (also known as FLiRT), has become increasingly common in the United States and the United Kingdom, and it has also been reported in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland, six cases of KP.2 have been identified so far.

"As most people with COVID-19 are no longer tested, this is only a small sample of a larger number of cases. There is not yet enough evidence to judge the effect of this variant’s mutations.

"Public health authorities will monitor its spread and severity, as with previous variants."