#Variant update for #Ontario, #Canada (to May 12 2024)
The JN.1.* +FLiRT variants now make up 27% of sequences and XDK.* which is recombinant of JN.1.1.1 and XBB.1.16.11 is remaining at 5% for now. Graph tools by @Mike_Honey_ 🧵1/
JN.1 #Pirola has dropped to 7% frequency and JN.1.4 down to 9% while KP.3 FLuQE is now most prevalent at 26% while the FLiRT variants are much lower at KP.2 (6%) and KS.1 (5%). 2/
KP.3 has the F456L and Q493E mutations (FLuQE nickname) while the FLiRT variants have the same F456L mutation but a different R346T mutation. Ryan Hisner explains how FLiRT is a typical stepwise mutation but Q493E is very rare and may be different ( ). 3/
@Mike_Honey_ is now automatically generating new variant reports when he updates his data for various locations so it is easy to just click on a link and get the latest PDF version of the report instead of having to navigate through his tool. 4/
You can get the latest Ontario variant report here ( ).
How well can people with previous vaccines and/or infections neutralize these new mutations? Pre-print studies are starting to come out evaluating this. XBB infection on its own provides almost no neutralization against FLiRT and FLuQE ( ). 6/
The results show someone infected with JN.1 only has half the neutralization with the KP.3 FLuQE variant and people who had a previous XBB infection was even worse at 2.4x lower. 7/
Note, these neutralization levels are 37x lower (NT50 around from 51 to 177) for KP.3 compared to the levels against BA.5 which were 1833 to 1902 so while there is some neutralization it isn't much. 8/
These results are the mutations we are seeing today. In another 4 months when a new vaccine is supposed to be deployed, results could be a lot worse than 50% lower than an already low number so new vaccines should at least catch up with current escape mutations. 9/
Despite many hospitals declaring the end of the respiratory virus season in Ontario and relaxing or removing mask requirements already, there is still a lot of viral activity going on and COVID rising again. 10/
The % positivity in Ontario from viral tests ( ):
8.1% = Entero/Rhinovirus
7.3% = COVID-19
5.9% = Parainfluenza
5.3% = Seasonal Human Coronavirus
4.6% = Human metapneumovirus
2.9% = Influenza
0.9% = Adenovirus
0.4% = RSV
People are rightfully concerned about the high case fatality rate (CFR) of the H5N1 influenza virus but did you know fatalities from COVID infection (which already spreads easily between humans) with the elderly are as high as 40% ( )? 🧵1/
Virus infection can damage the body, we have seen this with Long COVID and this can happen with other viruses as well such as Influenza causing increased risk of cardiovascular events among other things. 2/
This study tries to indirectly measure the impact of influenza infection by looking at cardiovascular events and then measuring the risk people had if they received the influenza vaccine or not( … ). 3/ H/T: @JaninePaynterncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
#Variant update for #Ontario, #Canada (to Apr. 17, 2024)
The JN.1.* +FLiRT variants now make up 20% of sequences and XDK.* which is recombinant of JN.1.1.1 and XBB.1.16.11 has made an appearance at 5%. Graph tools by @Mike_Honey_ 🧵1/
FLiRT is a nickname for variants with F456L & R356T mutations which seem to provide an advantage over the JN.1 Pirola variants without them. You can see the current FLiRT variants here from @dfocosi. 2/
JN.1 #Pirola has dropped to around 20% frequency and JN.1.4 is hovering at 14% while the FLiRTs are gaining: KS.1 at 10%, KP.1.1 at 4%, KP.2 at 3% and XDK.1 at 4%. 3/
#Variant update for #Ontario, #Canada (to Apr. 9, 2024)
The regular BA.2.86.*/JN.1.* #Pirola clan of variants as you know them are starting to go down in Ontario. This is because descendants are picking up two very useful FLiRT mutations. Graph tools by @Mike_Honey_ 🧵1/
FLiRT is a nickname for variants with F456L & R356T mutations which seem to provide an advantage over the JN.1 Pirola variants without them. You can see the current FLiRT variants here from @dfocosi. 2/
Now that most variants with FLiRT have designations, you can see that JN.1 has dropped to 20% frequency while the new KP.3 FLiRT has jumped to 17.5%. The KS.1 FLiRT variant has also increased to 11% and KP.2 FLiRT is in the mix as well. 3/
PHO is reminding HCWs, even those who have been vaccinated, to wear an N95 while providing care to people with confirmed or suspected cases because they know N95s can prevent infection from infectious aerosols. Works for other airborne viruses as well and non-HCW too.
Respirators protect individuals who are healthy and help reduce the chance of individuals who are sick from infecting others even in well ventilated places where short-range transmission is a concern. 2/
Yes, respirators actually work, read this thread to learn how ( ). 3/
COVID-19 #Wastewater levels in #Ottawa have finally declined significantly but lower does not mean gone as PCR test positivity rates are still at 7.6% ( ). 🧵1/ covid.gilchrist.ca/Ottawa.html
RSV WW levels are 7.7x lower than the peak which was much lower than last year. Influenza had much higher peaks this year than last year and while Flu A levels are low, Flu B hit its peak at the beginning of March and is now declining but still above the peak from last year. 2/
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) stopped updating its COVID dashboard and now produces new stats on their updated respiratory virus dashboard ( ). 3/ottawapublichealth.ca/en/reports-res…
#Variant update for #Ontario, #Canada (to Mar. 14, 2024)
The BA.2.86.* #Pirola clan of variants has made most other lineages extinct in Ontario. The SanKey shows the situation is now much simpler and almost exclusively JN.1 and descendants. Graph tools by @Mike_Honey_ 🧵1/
Right now the JN.1 and JN.1.4 Pirola variant are still the most prevalent. The JN.1.11.1 variant, its descendants (KP.*) and other FLiRT variants will be the ones to watch as they start growing in Ontario and may be able to escape immunity from JN.1 infections. 2/
The % positivity from viral tests is quite a mixture now, the original Coronavirus in lead at 8.2% with COVID-19 in 2nd (6.3%) then Entero/Rhinovirus (5%), Human metapneumovirus (4.6%), Influenza A (4%), Influenza B (3.8%), Parainfluenza (3.4%) ( ). 3/ publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-An…