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KP.3 COVID variant stays dominant in the US.
The CDC reports a rise in cases of the KP.3 variant which has health experts concerned..
Published June 21, 2024 at 2:40pm by Ahjané Forbes
COVID-19 KP.3 Variant on the Rise, CDC Data Shows
As of June 2024, the COVID-19 KP.3 variant is gaining traction, according to new data from the CDC. In just a matter of weeks, it has overtaken other variants to become the dominant strain, with a significant increase in positive cases.
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Key takeaways:
- Prevalence: From June 9 to June 22, KP.3 accounted for 33.1% of positive cases, up from 25%.
- Context: JN.1, the previous dominant variant, now accounts for only 1.6%.
- Symptoms: Identical to JN.1, including fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, and more.
- Protection: CDC Spokesperson, Rosa Norman, recommends the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older to prevent serious illness.
Quotes:
“[KP.3 is] a sublineage of the JN.1 lineage," - CDC Spokesperson, Rosa Norman, on the relationship between KP.3 and JN.1 variants.
COVID-19 Positivity Rates:
- The latest CDC data shows a rise in test positivity rates to 5.4% in the past week.
- COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations remain low compared to March and April 2020.
Read more: COVID KP.3 variant remains dominant in the US making up 33.1% of cases: See latest data