China reports 7 cases of fastest-growing Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1; here's all you need to know
PTC News Desk: China reported seven infections of the Covid subvariant JN.1, Reuters reported while citing the country's national disease control and prevention administration.
The authorities stated that the prevalence of JN.1 is currently "very low" in the country, but they cannot rule out the chance that it would become the dominant strain in China due to factors such as imported cases.
JN.1, one type of the virus that causes COVID-19, is a closely related offshoot of the variant BA.2.86, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the CDC, there is only one difference in the spike protein between JN.1 and BA.2.86.
- JN.1 was found in the United States for the first time in September 2023. As of December 8, the public health department of the United States estimates that the variation JN.1 accounts for 15-29% of all cases in the country.
- "According to the CDC, JN.1 will continue to increase as a proportion of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences," according to the US public health department.
- It is currently the fastest-growing variety in the United States.
- In India, the new coronavirus variant was found on December 13 in Kerala. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has also confirmed its presence in Kerala.
- Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association COVID Task Force, stated that JN.1 could be a cause of the recent increase in Covid cases in India, which now stands at 1,296.
- According to the CDC, it is not known whether the JN.1 variant of coronavirus causes different symptoms than other forms. COVID-19 symptoms are generally similar among variations.
- With inputs from agencies
