A sub-variant of the Omicron strain of coronavirus has been classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization, because of “its rapidly increasing spread”. JN.1 has been found in many countries around the world, including India, China, UK and the United States, according to media reports.
The risk to the public is currently low and current vaccines continue to offer protection, the WHO says. But it warns Covid and other infections could rise this winter.
The virus which causes Covid is constantly changing over time and sometimes this leads to new variants developing. Omicron has been the globally dominant variant for some time. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking a number of variants of interest linked to Omicron - including JN.1 - although none of them are deemed to be concerning. But JN.1 is spreading quickly in many corners of the world. About four years to the day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) again sounded the global alert over Covid-19, saying the pandemic remains an international crisis. So, we remain very concerned by the situation in many countries and the rising number of deaths.
Covid is constantly changing over time and
sometimes this leads
to emergence
of new variants
The union health agency also agreed that Covid still remains a dangerous infectious disease with the capacity to cause substantial damage to health and health system. So, the risk groups will have to be fully vaccinated as early as possible.
We remain hopeful that in the coming year, the world will transition to a new phase in which we reduce hospitalisations and deaths to the lowest possible level. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) should issue an alert at airports, land ports and seaports against new JN.1 Covid variant. People must wear masks in crowded places, wash hands frequently and take booster jabs. In view of the rise of fresh cases of new coronavirus variant JN.1 in different countries in the world we all must have to remain alert and be prepared against the new and emerging strains of coronavirus.