Latest COVID-19 Surge Hits Louisiana. Is It Serious?

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (KPEL News) – A “summer surge” of COVID-19 cases is occurring across the country, with increases in cases seen in nearly every state, including Louisiana.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that some parts of the country – along the West Coast and in parts of New England – are seeing significant increases. But there are signs of slight increases even in areas that are not as aggressive in their expansion.

In Louisiana, the number of positive tests in the Bayou State increased by 2 percent, according to CDC data as of June 22.

That’s not much if you look at the numbers alone, but some health agencies are expressing concerns. The good news is that hospitalizations and deaths remain low in Louisiana, but the “summer surge” (which experts say will remain mild) could still affect some people with underlying health conditions.

The increase is due to new variants that health agencies are monitoring.

JN.1 and FLiRT

Like most viruses, COVID-19 has been constantly mutating, with more and more strains of the virus emerging as spring and summer approached.

The Shreveport Times I spoke with a health expert to learn more about one set of variants, known collectively as “FLiRT.”

Dr. Krista Queen, director of the Viral Genomics and Surveillance Center for Emerging Viral Threats at LSU Health Shreveport and a viral threat specialist, said, “FLiRT is an interesting name for this new variant and it refers to several different mutations that are present, and it’s really not just one variant, but a group of variants.”

According to Dr. Queen and the CDC, there are several symptoms to look out for that are specific to FLiRT.

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Blocked or runny nose
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Breathing difficulties
• Tiredness
• New loss of taste or smell
• “Brain fog” (feeling of reduced alertness and awareness)
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (stomach upset, mild diarrhea, vomiting)

However, there are currently mixed opinions on whether this could result in a “summer surge.”

“FLiRT strains are subvariants of Omicron,” Yale Medicine wrote on its website. “One of them, KP.2, accounted for 28.2% of COVID infections in the United States through the third week of May, making it the dominant coronavirus variant in the country; another, KP.1.1, accounted for 7.1% of cases.”

This set of variants is related to the JN.1 variant that spread in late 2023.

The JN.1 variant has been reported to cause some unusual symptoms, which have occurred in people who tested positive for the strain in Louisiana and across the country.

Problems with sleeping: 10.8% of diagnosed people had difficulty falling asleep.

Increased anxiety: 10.5% of diagnosed people reported increased anxiety.

But one of the best ways to avoid getting sick? Spending time outdoors. And with most people on vacation or heading off soon, the chances of a major spike in cases remain slim.

Speaking of vacations, here are some rules to follow if you’re heading to a nearby beach.