Covid is spiking again. Just how serious is it now?
NEW DELHI : A new strain of covid-19 has emerged in the country, raising concerns. The first recorded instance of this virus, known as JN.1, was found in Kerala on 8 December in a 78-year-old woman. More cases have been detected since.
How serious is the strain? Mint explores: Identified as a descendant of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, JN.1 is the result of a highly mutated strain from the BA.2.86 variant, nicknamed Pirola. The BA.2.86 lineage was first identified in August 2023 in India and carries more than 30 mutations in the spike protein. Spike proteins help the virus infect cells.
Both JN.1 and BA.2.86 have similar characteristics but for one feature—JN.1 has an extra spike protein. Dr Lalit Kant, former scientist with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), India’s apex medical research body, says that because of this extra spike protein, the infection could spread faster. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently considers JN.1 to be a ‘variant of interest’, adding that it presents a lower risk.
Yet, many experts believe that we should be careful. According to Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman, National Indian Medical Association Covid Taskforce, it is too early to say if there will be a major spike in cases.
Nonetheless, the variant has the ability to make people fall sick—owing to the variant’s high potential of evading the immune system and being more transmissible. As per the US CDC, current vaccines should work against JN.1, just as they did against the BA.2.86. Compared to other states, Kerala has been continuously testing patients suffering from influenza-like illnesses.
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