COVID-19: LP.8.1 becomes new dominant variant in the USA

The Sars-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of the disease known as COVID-19, has undergone a new mutation, designated as the LP.8.1 variant, which is derived from the JN.1 variant first identified in July of the previous year. This new variant has already been detected in 23 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that definitive clinical data on the characteristics of the LP.8.1 infection is yet to be established. However, in the United States, it has recently surpassed XEC, becoming the dominant strain with 42% of cases, compared to 31% of the previous main variant. Despite the accelerated propagation of the variant, WHO experts have not expressed concerns regarding the variant’s potential to pose a significant threat to public health. They have asserted that currently available vaccines should continue to demonstrate effectiveness in preventing symptomatic and severe disease. A study published in Lancet Infectious Diseases in February 2024 highlighted that although LP.8.1 has a lower infectivity than the parent variant JN.1, the Sars-CoV-2 virus strain contained in this season’s anti-Covid vaccine, it has a greater ability to escape the immune response. This finding suggests a heightened potential for reinfection, albeit without an escalation in the severity of symptoms.