EXPLAINER: Is PH at risk of ‘FLiRT’ COVID-19 variants?

With the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) now on heightened alert for the new COVID-19 variants “FLiRT,” how does the Philippines fare in keeping another possible surge in COVID-19 cases from happening? 

The World Health Organization (WHO) on May 3 designated four JN.1 sublineages — JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2, and KP.3, more commonly known as “FLiRT” — as currently circulating variants under monitoring. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the term “FLiRT” was coined by researchers to describe the amino acid changes in the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein, specifically from phenylalanine (F) to leucine (L), and from arginine (R) to threonine (T). 

The DOH, however, emphasized that there is no current evidence to show yet that the KP.2 and KP.3 variants could cause severe to critical COVID-19, both locally and internationally.

Singapore, which is near the Philippines, reported having a spike in COVID-19 infections in the previous weeks, with the FLiRT variants believed to be the culprit. 

Incidentally, the DOH has recently observed a “small” increase in COVID-19 cases, as 877 new cases ones recorded nationwide from May 7 to 13, with an average of 125 cases per day.

Despite this, the DOH last Tuesday said that all