HQ Team
December 19, 2023: An increase in Covid-19 cases across the world is causing concern. The surge is attributed to the detection of JN.1, a subvariant of the virus, previously identified in several countries, including the US and China. The World Health Organization (WHO) assures that all approved Covid-19 vaccines remain effective against JN.1.
JN.1, a descendant of the Pirola variant (BA.2.86), has been on researchers’ radar since its detection in the US in September. Although Pirola and JN.1 are considered Variants of Interest, they haven’t been designated as Variants of Concern. Both variants have been detected globally, with WHO noting their prevalence in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database.
While there’s an increase in cases caused by Pirola and JN.1 globally, Singapore reports no clear indication that these variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease. The country has reported around 56,000 cases in the second week of December.
India cases
emphasizes the importance of vaccination coverage, with experts suggesting that widespread vaccination in India provides significant protection, despite some data indicating a higher likelihood of hospitalization for those vaccinated more than a year ago.
As of Saturday, Kerala reported 1,324 active Covid-19 cases, with four deaths, a situation officials attribute to the state’s robust testing efforts. However, the number of cases related to JN.1 remains unclear due to limited routine genome sequencing.
Kerala state Health Minister Veena George reassured the public, stating that the situation is under control and there’s no cause for worry. JN.1 was first identified in Kerala in a 79-year-old woman with mild symptoms, who has since recovered. Minister George added that the variant has been present in other parts of the country for several months, as detected in individuals screened at the Singapore airport.
Kerala’s neighboring states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are closely monitoring the rising cases. The health ministry in India has conducted mock drills in hospitals across several states to assess preparedness for a potential increase in Covid-19 numbers.
Government officials emphasize the importance of vaccination coverage, with experts suggesting that widespread vaccination in India provides significant protection, despite some data indicating a higher likelihood of hospitalization for those vaccinated more than a year ago.
