A WEEK. >> A LOT OF WORK TO DO. >>> IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT COVID VARIANTS. THE LATEST ONE HAS A CATCHY NAME. IT'S CALLED FLIRT. IT'S SPARKING A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT A POTENTIAL SUMMER WAVE OF THE VIRUS. OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS REPORTER LAUREN PETTY EXPLAINS MORE ON WHAT THE FLIRT VARIANT IS ABOUT. >> Reporter: FLIRT IS ACTUALLY THE NICKNAME FOR A FAMILY OF VARIANTS. WHICH BECAME DOMINANT IN THE U.S. LAST MONTH. RIGHT NOW, FLIRT CASES MAKE UP ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE COVID CASES NATIONWIDE, AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GROW. THE GOOD NEWS IS WASTE WATER SURVEILLANCE SHOWS TRANSMISSION IS LOW, AND HEALTH EXPERTS SAY WE'RE KIND OF IN A COVID LULL RIGHT NOW WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS AND CASE NUMBERS DOWN. BUT ONE INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WE SPOKE WITH SAYS DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO COVID. >> ACUTE SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS DEVELOPMENT OF LONG COVID OR HAVING INCREASED RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETES WHICH IS QUITE SERIOUS AND STILL SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. >> Reporter: AT THIS POINT, SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER VARIANTS. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY NEW THERE. EARLY TESTS ALSO SHOW THAT THE LATEST COVID VACCINE, THE ONE THAT WAS RELEASED IN THE FALL OF 2023, IS EFFECTIVE AGAINST THESE FLIRT STRAINS. BUT NOT AS MANY PEOPLE GOT THAT VACCINE AS HEALTH OFFICIALS HAD HOPED. DOCTORS SAY IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO BE UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST VACCINE IF YOU ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR IF YOU'RE OVER THE AGE OF 65.
