US: Public Urged to Get Vaccinated as KP.3.1.1 Variant Drives Surge in COVID-19 Infections

The KP.3.1.1 COVID-19 variant has become the leading strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, contributing to a surge in infections, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Belonging to the Omicron family, KP.3.1.1 is one of several JN.1-derived variants currently circulating in the country. The CDC’s latest data reveals that for the two-week period ending August 17, this variant is expected to account for 31% to 43% of COVID-19 clinical samples, a significant increase from the 20% to 26% share recorded for the two weeks ending August 3.

This uptick in the prevalence of KP.3.1.1 coincides with ongoing high levels of COVID-19 activity, as evidenced by increased test positivity rates, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations—especially among adults aged 65 and older and children under 2 years old.

In light of these developments, the CDC advises the public to receive COVID-19 vaccinations to safeguard against severe illness. The agency also announced that updated vaccines, designed to offer protection during the upcoming 2024-2025 respiratory virus season, will be available this fall.