WASHINGTON (TND) — Scientists are forecasting a rise in coronavirus cases throughout May as a new set of variants emerges, according to disease researcher Eric Topol.
The variants, known as “FLiRT,” are distinguished by mutations in the disease’s spike proteins. These proteins help viruses attach to surfaces and are one of the factors behind the infectious nature of COVID-19.
FliRT variants have mutations in areas designated “F for L” and “R for T,” Topol wrote via Substack. While these variants could lead to a rise in cases of COVID-19, Topol, who is a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, explained the public has little to fear.
My impression is that it won’t [create a new wave] since they are mutations we’ve been exposed to before,” Topol wrote. “My projection is that we could see a wavelet but not a significant new wave of infections as a result of the FLiRT variants in the next couple of months. I think it will take a much bigger challenge of our immune response than what we see with the FLiRTs.”Continuing, Topol noted high-risk individuals should remain aware of , but not worried about, the new variants.
“Covid’s not going away, but I don’t think there is a significant short-term threat of the emerging FLiRT variants,” he wrote. “High-risk people should continue to take precautions, keeping up with boosters, and all forms of protection. Even if FLiRT doesn’t kick in, there’s plenty more ways that SARS-CoV2 can reinvent itself and find new ways or better ways to evade our immune response.”
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In a statement to The National Desk, a CDC spokesperson confirmed the agency is tracking so-called "FLiRT" COVID-19 variants to "better understand their potential impact on public health."
"Based on current data there are no indicators that [FLiRT] would cause more severe illness than other strains. CDC will continue to monitor community transmission of the virus and how vaccines perform against this strain," the spokesperson added.
How the government responded to the initial outbreak of COVID-19 remains a hot-button issue on Capitol Hill. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., suggested in April Dr. Anthony Fauci conspired with an organization researching coronaviruses to hide its loss of government funding.
"To a lot of us looking at it, it looks like a cover-up," Sen. Paul reportedly said.
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