FLiRT Covid variant: Urgent warning issued to Australians

New Covid strain 'FLiRT' to lead to a surge in infections The subvariants are descendants of the JN.1 variant READ MORE: 'Triple hit' of illnesses explains why so many Australians are sick

A new Covid strain could lead to a surge in infections across Australia this winter as experts issue a dire warning about the sub-variant.

The new group of coronavirus strains have been nicknamed FLiRT and are a descendant of the highly contagious JN.1 variant.

Professor Catherine Bennett, the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, said the new strain was first detected in Australia in February.

Dr Bennett anticipates the FLiRT subvariants will drive the next Covid wave which is expected to begin in a few weeks and peak in June.

She said Australians were somewhat protected through immunity arising from previous infections of the JN.1 variant as well as Covid vaccinations.

'It still has the potential to make people very sick,' Dr Bennett told 7NEWS.

A new Covid-19 strain will see a surge in infections this winter flu season as experts warn the sub-variant could make people 'very sick' (stock image)

'Now is the time to update boosters. They're the best protection for the next couple of weeks and months which is when we'll be going into the next Covid wave.

'Vaccinations can keep people out of hospital.'

Dr Bennett said the FLiRT subvariant would cause similar symptoms to other strains, but that every infection was different.

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KP.2, one of the variants of the FLiRT group, has overtaken JN.1 in the United States.

The dominant strain accounts for more than a quarter of cases, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

KP.1.1, a related variant, is responsible for seven per cent of detected cases.

It comes as a 'triple hit' of flu, Covid, and respiratory syncytial virus, in combination with falling vaccination rates, is leaving huge numbers of Australians sick.

The number of flu cases fell during the pandemic because of lockdowns and measures such as the widespread use of facemasks.

But this has led to lower immunity and increased susceptibility to the flu, with 3,696 hospital admissions and 379 deaths from influenza in Australia last year.

The trend is continuing this year, with more than 2,000 people falling ill with the flu in the week up to May 11 in NSW, a 16 per cent increase on the same time last year.

The new group of coronavirus strains have been nicknamed FLiRT and are a descendant of the highly contagious JN. 1 variant (pictured, shoppers in Sydney in October, 2021)

Covid cases are also increasing, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also at high levels. RSV is one of the major causes of lung infection in adults and children and can lead to more serious illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

'We are officially entering the influenza season, with cases expected to surge rapidly in the next six to eight weeks,' NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

'This is a timely reminder for parents, as we are already seeing an increase in the number of young children becoming sick with the virus.

'The flu vaccine is readily available and free for those at higher risk of severe illness, including children aged six months to under five years.'

The flu vaccine is also free for pregnant women and anyone who has a medical condition such as heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes or kidney disease.

Dr Chant said that with Covid still present in the community, vaccinations are a priority, with virus activity increasing from low to moderate levels.