• Source:JND
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Covid-19 Sub Variant JN.1: The recent emergence of new Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 has become a cause of major worry for health departments of the country. In response to rising covid cases, the Kerala Health Minister addressed the concerns and said, “Right now, I do not think we should panic, but we will keep an extra vigil.”

Covid-19 Sub Variant JN.1

The new variant of Covid-19, JN.1 is considered to be the Omicron subvariant BA.2.86 or Pirola. According to a Reuters report, this variant was first discovered in the United States in September 2023, whereas on December 15, China alone recorded seven infections of this variant.

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In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Consultant Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad explained this new COVID-19 sub-variant, its symptoms and risk factors.

According to Dr Balasubramanian, the COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 is described to be a descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86 (Pirola) subvariant. It has recently emerged as a cause for concern due to increasing infections in certain regions.

He said, “JN.1 carries a single mutation in its spike protein compared to Pirola. Data from preliminary studies suggest that this mutation may potentially increase its transmissibility and ability to evade immune responses from vaccination or previous infection.”

Is JN.1 Infectious Than Other Covid Variants?

Upon the severity of this particular variant, Dr Balasubramanian said that currently, there are limited data available on the severity of illness caused by JN.1 with some reports suggesting that it might present similar symptoms to other Omicron sub-variants, including fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue.

Who Is At Risk?

Dr Balasubramanian explained that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, people with underlying medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or chronic respiratory illnesses, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals may be at a higher risk of severe infections.”

 

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)