Did you think the coronavirus was going to die down? Don't be overlooked, this "old monster" that has been ravaging the world for many years has begun to make a comeback again! Just recently, a new variant of the strain has appeared in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries, which makes people wonder if humanity is going to be caught in a thrilling battle with the virus again.
This time, it was the location where this new KP.2 subvariant was first discovered... It's the sewers of the United States! That's right, it's the dark and dirty place where the sewage of our daily lives flows. It's really creepy: has the virus "evolved" from humans to be able to travel down the sewers?
Experts say the new subvariant is nicknamed the "water dinosaur" because it originated from the previous JN.1 variant, but further breakthroughs have evolved multiple new mutations in the spike protein. At the same time, it also gave birth to the funny codename "FLiRT", which resembles a lover who flirts among flowers.
However, this "flirtation" is not romantic, but silently spreads in the world of viruses. In the U.S., KP.2 has soared to 28 percent, nearly 20 percentage points higher than a month ago, the data shows. This means that 1 in 4 COVID patients is infected with this new subvariant.
In Canada, KP.2 is aggressively accounting for more than a quarter of all new cases. Experts warn that because this variant may be better at evading the body's immune system, it could allow the outbreak to surge again.
The UK has not been spared, where the FLiRT family together accounts for as much as 40% of new cases. Although there is no evidence that it is more deadly than its previous relatives, no one can be sure whether this "water dinosaur" will continue to evolve and become a "land overlord".
So, it's better for everyone to be careful! It seems that the new crown virus has not completely given up the capture of human beings, but is always adjusting itself with the hand of mutation to find a new breakthrough. Each of us must maintain a long-term awareness of prevention just like we do with stubborn diseases.
Regular booster shots and personal protection can finally win the "permanent battle" against the virus. Of course, what is more important than this is to be kind to the ecological environment and cherish the healthy body. After all, no one wants the next "water dinosaur" to creep out of some dark and dirty corner, right?