Covid-19 News: Delhi Reports First Case Of JN.1 Sub-Variant; Authorities Say 'No Need To Panic'

Delhi JN.1 Case: The first case of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 in Delhi has been detected in a sample that was sent for genome sequencing, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Wednesday. Out of the three samples sent for genome sequencing, the presence of JN.1 has been detected in one, Bharadwaj informed.

Delhi reports the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the 3 samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1 & two are Omicron: Delhi’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj to ANI

— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023

"JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron and is a mild infection. This is the one spreading in south India. There is no need to panic. It causes mild sickness," he stated. According to an ANI report, prior to the detection of the latest case of JN.1, India had reported 109 occurences of the Covid-19 sub-variant, as per the central government. A total of 109 JN.1 COVID variant cases have been reported in the country as of December 26, Health Ministry sources cited by news agency ANI said on Wednesday.

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As many as 36 cases were reported from Gujarat, 34 from Karnataka, 14 from Goa, 9 from Maharashtra, six from Kerala, four from Rajasthan, four from Tamil Nadu and two from Telangana, the sources said.

Amid rising concerns over the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus, Dr Bobby Bhalotra, Vice Chairman in the Department of Chest Medicine, Gangaram Hospital, said, "The new variants are so far mild; they are from the family of the Omicron virus. So, the cases are not too much to be worried about; there is no panic as such but yes, it is a sign that it has come back again."

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He added, "It may flourish because it is more infectious than the normal COVID virus so we have to start taking precautions. Precaution and prevention are better than cures. Take precautions so that doesn't spread for them." The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

(With inputs from ANI)