COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 becomes dominant in US: See latest CDC data

The KP.3.1.1 COVID-19 variant is the dominant strain of the virus, the latest projections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show.

Th e agency's Nowcast data tracker , which displays COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods, projects the KP.3.1.1 variant accounting for 27.8% of positive infections, followed by KP.3 at 20.1% in the two-week stretch starting July 21 and ending Aug. 3.

"The KP.3.1.1 variant is very similar to other circulating variants in the United States. All current lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023," Rosa Norman, a spokesperson at the CDC, previously told USA TODAY.

"At this time, we anticipate that COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants. CDC will continue to monitor the severity of variants and will monitor vaccine effectiveness."

Previously, the KP.3.1.1 variant made up 17.7% of cases for the two-week period ending July 20 and KP.3 accounted for 32.9%.

Here is what you need to know about the KP.3.1.1 variant.

Report: U.S. Olympic swimmers David Johnston, Luke Whitlock test positive for COVID-19

How are KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants similar?

The KP.3.1.1 COVID-19 variant is the most prevalent strain at the national, regional and state level for the week ending on July 27, according to the CDC's Nowcast data tracker.

"KP.3.1.1 is a sub-lineage of KP.3," Norman said.

How are KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 different?

Norman previously explained that KP.3.1.1 has one change in spike protein.

JN.1, a variant that has been circulating since December 2023, only saw a single change in spike, unlike the KP.3 variant, which is a sub-lineage of the JN.1, Dave Daigle, a spokesperson at the CDC, previously told USA TODAY.

"KP.3.1.1 has one change in the spike protein in comparison to KP.3," Norman said.

Travel options to weigh: My bags were packed, then I got COVID. What should I do?

COVID-19 symptoms

The CDC has not said if KP.3 or KP.3.1.1 have their own specific symptoms. However, Norman previously explained that the symptoms associated with KP.3 are similar to those from JN.1. The government agency outlines the basic symptoms of COVID-19 on its website. These symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

CDC data shows the COVID-19 test positivity by region

As of July 30, the CDC said COVID-19 infections were growing in 35 states or territories , stable or uncertain in seven and declining in two.

CDC data shows which regions have the lowest and highest COVID-19 positivity rates from July 20 to July 27, 2024.

Note : The CDC organizes positivity rate based on regions , as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services :

• Region 1 : Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
• Region 2 : New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
• Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
• Region 7 : Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
• Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
• Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.
• Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

The test positivity rate displayed in each state represents the positivity rate for that state's entire region.

Can't see the map? Click here to view it.

The CDC data shows COVID-19 test positivity rate was recorded at 16.3 % for the week of July 20 to July 27, an absolute change of 2% from the prior week.

Changes in COVID-19 test positivity within a week

Data collected by the CDC shows the eight Southeast states making up Region 4 had the biggest increase (7.2%) in positive COVID-19 cases from July 20 to July 27, 2024.

Here's the list of states and their regions' changes in COVID-19 positivity for the past week.

• Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont): +0.5%
• Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands): +0.5%
• Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia): -0.3%
• Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee): +7.2%
• Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin): +1.8%
• Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas): +3.6%
• Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska): +4.3%
• Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming): +0.3%
• Region 9 ( Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau): -5.7%
• Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington): +2.9%

How can we protect ourselves from KP.3, KP.3.1.1 and other variants?

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Norman also recommends that the elderly and those who are immunocompromised should get vaccinated in order to protect themselves from COVID-19.

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-19 variant KP.3.1.1 becomes dominant in US: See latest CDC data