By Neha Yadav
Published Dec 21, 2023

Hindustan Times
In Focus

Photo Credits: PTI

JN.1 COVID-19 variant: 'A variant of interest'

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog Health member Dr VK Paul informed that as many as 21 COVID-19 cases of the sub-variant JN.1 have been detected nationwide.

Here's everything you need to know about the new JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19.

19 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been traced in Goa, one each in Kerala and Maharashtra.  In the past two weeks, 16 deaths related to COVID-19 have been recorded. 

JN.1 was first detected in Denmark and Israel in late July 2023. 

World Health Organisation (WHO) classified the JN.1 COVID-19 sub-variant as a separate "variant of interest" as a part of its parent lineage BA.2.86.

BA.2.86 lineage was first identified in August 2023. It carries more than 30 mutations in the spike protein indicating a high potential for immune invasion.

According to WHO, the new COVID-19 sub-variant poses a "low" global public health risk.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged the states to monitor emerging cases, symptoms and case severity to plan an appropriate public health response.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has been working on genome sequencing of the new JN.1 variant.

As of December 21, 2023, the total number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country stood at 1,296.