In recent times, health experts have noted that the symptoms of the new coronavirus strains, specifically the KP1 and KP2 variants, are quite similar. While the KP1 strain has been spreading in the USA, hospitalizations due to this strain are relatively low. On the other hand, the spread rate of the KP2 strain is also low. Common symptoms of these strains include cough, runny nose, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and digestive disorders.
The updated vaccines against the Omicron variants are believed to be effective against these new strains. In Israel, while the KP2 variant is less common than in the US, there have been no identified cases of KP1 variant. The most common variant in Israel currently is KN2 which was found even before discovering the new variants.
The Ministry of Health in Israel continuously monitors trends in morbidity and worldwide coronavirus strains through genetic sequencing results. According to their findings, JN1 and its descendants make up approximately 97% of sequences in Israel. Within this percentage, about 4.7% is accounted for by KP2 variant while KP1 sub-variant makes up less than that percentage. There have been no changes in ministry’s policy regarding coronavirus at this time.
This information sheds light on different coronavirus strains circulating globally and highlights vaccine effectiveness against them. It’s crucial for health authorities to keep monitoring and updating strategies to combat COVID-19 effectively
