The new SARS-CoV-2 "FLiRT" lineage LB.1 (descended from JN.1.9.2) has acquired the Spike S31del mutation so becoming a "DeFLiRT". That deletion appears to be quite efficient, with strong growth in the US (14%) and now Canada (10%). New Zealand and Singapore have not updated any data since last week.

At present this seems the most likely successor to the currently-dominant "FLiRT" KP.2 and "FLuQE" KP.3.

#COVID19 #LB_1 #Spike_R31del #DeFLiRT
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The new SARS-CoV-2 "FLiRT" lineage LB.1 (descended from JN.1.9.2) has acquired the Spike S31del mutation so becoming a "DeFliRT". That deletion appears to be quite efficient, leading to strong growth in the US (11%), New Zealand (10%) and Singapore (7%). At present this seems the most likely successor to KP.2 and KP.3.

#COVID19 #LB_1 #Spike_R31del #FLiRT
🧵