Covid-19 latest update: From gastrointestinal to respiratory; here are 10 JN.1 symptoms to watch out for
PTI that 19 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been traced in Goa while one each in Kerala and Maharashtra. Amid an uptick in Covid-19 cases across the globe, the World Health Organisation has decided to classify the JN.1 Covid variant as the “variant of interest." However, the world heath body added that the variant does not pose much threat to public health. JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) variant is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of coronavirus.
BA.2.86 lineage, first identified in August 2023, is phylogenetically distinct from the circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineages, including EG.5.1 and HK.3. BA.2.86 carries more than 30 mutations in the spike (5) protein, indicating a high potential for immune evasion. JN.1 was first detected in Denmark and Israel in late July 2023.
According to officials, the sub-strain is currently said to be prevalent in 36-40 countries has has led to 16 deaths over the last couple of weeks, as reported by PTI. The official also added that while most of the deceased had comorbid conditions, almost 92 percent of the patients reported to have been detected with the new strain were recovering at home. Earlier this month, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had said that JN.1 makes up about an estimated 15 to 29 per cent of cases in the US as of December 8.
Last week, China also detected seven infections of the Covid sub-variant. Senior consultant in Chest Medicine at Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Ujjwal Prakash has explained that JN.1 is similar to other variants and sub-variants observed globally, ANI has reported. Common symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache.
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