How do the flirt variants differ in terms of transmissibility, severity, and antibody evasion compared to previous sars-cov-2 strains? 
Transmissibility: The FLiRT variants, specifically KP.3 and KP.2, appear to be more transmissible than previous strains, including JN.1. According to experts, the FLiRT mutations make the virus more infectious, allowing it to spread more easily. This is evident from the rapid rise in cases and wastewater detection data.
Severity: Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that the FLiRT variants cause more severe disease or hospitalizations compared to previous strains. Experts emphasize that the symptoms are similar to those seen with other COVID-19 strains, including fever, cough, runny nose, headache, and muscle aches. While some individuals, particularly older adults or those with weakened immune systems, may still experience severe symptoms, including breathing problems requiring hospitalization, the overall severity of the disease does not seem to have increased.
Antibody Evasion: The FLiRT variants have been found to evade immunity more effectively than previous strains. Studies have shown that neutralizing activity against the FLiRTs is significantly weaker than against existing epidemic variants, even in individuals with past infections or vaccination-induced immunity. This means that people may be more likely to experience breakthrough infections or have reduced protection against the FLiRT variants compared to previous strains.
Key Takeaways:
- The FLiRT variants are more transmissible than previous strains.
- There is no evidence of increased severity or hospitalization rates.
- The FLiRT variants evade immunity more effectively, potentially leading to reduced protection against breakthrough infections.
Note: The information provided is based on the search results and does not include any external sources or references.
