Over a year-and-a-half after India witnessed the Omicron wave, health experts have sounded a warning over the increasing Covid-19 cases in India in the wake of the JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron being detected in the country. Although the infections remain mild, the country has recorded nearly 2,400 cases with Kerala reporting highest active cases (2,041). Although significantly less compared to the global scenario, the last two weeks has seen a steep rise in active Covid cases. There is a need to implement public health measures and arrangements to minimise the risk of increased transmission during the upcoming festive season.
JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the BA.2.86 Omicron variant and was first detected in Luxembourg in August, before spreading to other countries. BA.2.86, also known as the “Pirola” variant, was first detected in Denmark in July. While the variant is new for India, it is already prominent reportedly in 38 countries. Due to its rapid spread, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on December 19, classified it as a separate variant of interest (VOI), from the parent lineage BA.2.86. It was previously classified as VOI as part of BA.2.86 sublineages. The WHO said JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.
Covid comes as just any other influenza like illness with fever, cough, throat pain, and body pain. It is very difficult to differentiate whether it’s influenza or a Covid, but in most cases, influenza is more severe than Covid. Health experts said that there is nothing to panic as it remains only a Variant of Interest (VoI) and not Variant of Concern (VoC). According to experts, JN.1 contains an extra spike mutation — L455S mutation, which has immune-evasion properties.
Health experts also said that the JN.1 is not merely a generic variant; it represents a distinct sub-variant of the Omicron strain, more specifically identified as BA.2.86. This categorisation indicates that while it shares genetic roots with its predecessors, it has distinct protein mutations that set it apart. One notable consequence of these mutations is a potentially higher level of infectivity. However, it is essential to note that initial reports from countries like Singapore suggest that, despite its unique genetic makeup, infections caused by JN.1 have not exhibited unusual severity.
Although most patients are reported to be recovering without significant complications and there is nothing to panic about, people should remain vigilant. With the virus still circulating and adapting to local conditions, it is important to maintain constant vigil. People should use masks and isolate themselves in case of cold, cough, sore throat, or fever, and avoid crowded places. Pandemic preparedness is there but we need to be cautious. India has successfully maintained a low trajectory of Covid cases through collaborative efforts between the Centre and state governments to sustain the positive momentum in the fight against Covid.
