Covid update: JN.1 subvariant confirmed in Kerala; raises concerns with faster spread and immune evasion

PTC Web Desk:  A recent discovery of Covid subvariant JN.1, a descendant of BA.2.86, in parts of Kerala has triggered concerns about its potential impact on the region. The India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), responsible for monitoring new and threatening Covid-19 variants, identified the presence of JN.1 through surveillance efforts in Kerala.

Chief of INSACOG, NK Arora, said this variant, a subvariant of BA.2.86, had been isolated and reported in November. While confirming the presence of JN.1 cases, he emphasised that no hospitalizations or severe disease linked to this variant had been reported in India thus far.

JN.1 was initially detected in the United States in September 2023. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, highlighted the recent rise in cases in India after a seven-month lull. However, he noted that the severity of cases in Kerala seemed consistent with previous occurrences.

Jayadevan stressed the importance of genome sequencing in identifying prevalent virus types within regions. He mentioned that ongoing December genome sequencing results indicated the presence of the JN.1 variant in Kerala. Additionally, he warned that JN.1 has characteristics of faster spread and immune evasion, posing a risk to individuals previously infected or vaccinated.

Pointing out its global presence, Jayadevan highlighted reports of JN.1 spreading rapidly in various Western countries and cautioned that India, with its international connectivity, could be similarly affected through travel-related transmissions.