COVID KP.3 variant remains dominant in the US making up 33.1% of cases: See latest data

Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

Positive cases for the COVID-19 KP.3 variant are rising, according to newly released data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The KP.3 variant has risen from accounting for 25% of positive cases to 33.1%. The KP.3 variant has become the new frontrunner after JN.1 held the reigns for several months after making its first appearance in 2023.

Using the CDC’s Nowcast data tracker, it shows the projections of the COVID variants over a two-week period. The tool is used to help estimate current prevalence of variants, but does not predict future spread of the virus, the CDC said.

"Estimates predict that KP.3 is the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant making up 22-46% of viruses nationally," CDC Spokesperson, Rosa Norman, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "KP.3 is projected to continue increasing as proportions of the variants that cause COVID-19."

The government agency's data tracker shows that for the two-week time period between June 9 and June 22 the KP.3 variant is at 33.1%. Closely following behind is KP.2 at 20.8% and new variant LB.1 at 17.5% while JN.1 only has 1.6% of positive cases, the data shows.

On June 18, the CDC said that the COVID-19 infections are growing in 39 states, stable or uncertain in 10 states and declining in zero.

Here’s what you need to know about the KP.3 variant.

KP.3 is the dominant COVID-19 variant: Latest on test positivity, deaths, symptoms

What is the KP.3 variant?

Like JN.1 and "FLiRT" variants KP.1.1 and KP.2, KP.3 is a similar strain. Norman said that the KP.3 variant is, “a sublineage of the JN.1 lineage” which comes from the Omicron variant.

What are symptoms of KP.3?

Norman says the symptoms associated with KP.3 are identical to those from JN.1. Which include:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Headache

  • Muscle aches

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • "Brain fog" (feeling less wakeful and aware)

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea, vomiting)

The CDC notes that the list does not include all possible symptoms and that symptoms may change with new variants and can vary by person.

In general, the agency says, people with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe illness. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.

How can we protect ourselves if we are concerned about the KP.3 variant?

Norman suggests that everyone that is 6 months old and older get the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine. She said the vaccine will help to protect against any serious illnesses from COVID.

COVID-19 positivity rates, deaths and hospitalizations

CDC data shows which states has the lowest and highest COVID-19 positivity rates from June 8, 2024 to June 17, 2024.

Within the past week COVID test positivity has risen to 5.4%, the CDC data shows.

Norman said that COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations remain low since March 2020. On March 28, 2020 there were 3,211 reported COVID-19 related deaths for that week in the United States. The following week on April 4, 2020 the death toll rose to 10,113. Now in 2024 there have been 132 deaths reported as of June 8, CDC data shows.

Contributing: Gabe Hauari

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID KP.3 variant: Latest information on strain, newest CDC data