COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1: ‘Monitoring situation, we should be alert,’ says Kerala Health Minister Veena George

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COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1). As reported by ANI, George said, “No need of any worry. That is a sub-variant (COVID-19 sub-strain JN.1).

Now it is detected. Two or three months back it was detected in Indians when they were tested at Singapore airport. It is existing in other parts of India.

Kerala has detected it." JN.1 was first detected in September 2023 in the United States. She noted that Kerala's health system is so good, and “we could detect it through genomic sequencing. No need to worry.

We are keenly monitoring the situation. But we should be alert. People with comorbidities should be taken care of." Meanwhile, as reported by ANI, the Union Ministry of Health has initiated preparedness measures after a case of the JN.1 subvariant of COVID has been identified in Kerala as part of the ongoing routine surveillance conducted by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), said a government release on Saturday.

Also Read: COVID subvariant JN.1 in Kerala raises concerns; expert says 'markedly different from prior versions...' Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), confirmed this development during a press briefing in New Delhi. A mock drill is underway in health facilities across states, evaluating public health and hospital readiness. This exercise, overseen by district collectors, commenced on December 13 and is scheduled for completion by December 18, 2023.