It doesn’t seem to be as severe.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighted an escalating trend in COVID-19 cases, attributing it to a particular variant known as JN.1, which appears to be propelling the virus’ transmission.
As of December 9, JN.1 accounted for approximately 21% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, surging from 8% just a fortnight earlier, according to CDC data. Cohen emphasized the variant’s increased transmissibility while reassuring that there hasn’t been a rise in severity.
Globally, JN.1’s prevalence has surged, constituting 27% of genetic sequences submitted to the GISAID global virus database by the week ending December 3, escalating from 10% the previous week. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest,” denoting variants driving new cases with genetic changes that might aid their spread or circumvent immunity.
Despite JN.1 being an offspring of the omicron variant, it doesn’t seem to induce more severe illness than earlier COVID-19 cases, in line with the trend observed since early 2022. Medical professionals have noted similarities in symptoms, such as sore throats and congestion, with a decrease in hallmark symptoms like a dry cough or loss of taste or smell.
Severe cases continue to exhibit indicators like shortness of breath, chest pain, or discoloration in the skin, lips, or nail beds, indicative of oxygen deprivation. However, overall COVID-19 symptoms appear to be milder compared to earlier stages of the pandemic.
Dr. Molly Fleece, a hospital epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine, highlighted the unfortunate timing of JN.1’s spread, coinciding with increased travel and indoor gatherings during the holiday season. She stressed the ease of transmissibility, especially given omicron’s rapid spread, urging caution among the public.
While JN.1’s parent lineage, BA.2.86, boasts numerous mutations enabling evasion of existing immunity, the WHO suggests that JN.1 doesn’t pose heightened public health risks compared to other circulating variants. Additionally, the updated mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer demonstrate efficacy against JN.1, according to a preprint study, boosting antibody protection, although more research is needed.
Dr. David Ho, a professor at Columbia University, highlighted the potential efficacy of the updated vaccines against JN.1, emphasizing the importance of staying current with vaccinations to align with the virus’ changes.
Acknowledging the ongoing cat-and-mouse scenario with COVID-19, with the virus evolving in response to countermeasures, scientists underscored the need for continual adaptation to the virus’s changes, stressing the importance of staying abreast with vaccination protocols.
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