Mint Explainer: Everything you need to know about the latest Covid variant
Mint explains what the new virus is, its symptoms and efficacy of the vaccine: The new variant, experts have warned, appears to be more immune evasive and has been identified by WHO scientists as a ‘variant of interest’. JN.1 was first detected in the US in September 2023. By the end of October, it made up less than 0.1% of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, as per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most cases in India have been reported from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. India has recorded 260 new coronavirus infections, while active cases have increased to 1,828, according to health ministry data updated on Monday. Four deaths have also been reported in Kerala, till now.
According to the CDC, JN.1’s continued growth suggests that it might either be more transmissible or better at evading the human immune system. But CDC also suggested that it has no clear indication as of now, whether the new variant is a risk to public health relative to other circulating variants currently. “There is no indication of increased severity from JN.1 at this time," it added.
WHO’s technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove, wrote on social media platform X, “Respiratory diseases are increasing around the world due to several pathogens including COVID-19, flu, rhinovirus, mycoplasma pneumonia, and others. SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. JN.1 (sub-variant of BA.2.86) is already a VOI and continues to increase in circulation." At least 35 nations have reported the presence of the variant, with Singapore seeing massive resurgence in cases.
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