On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a \”variant of interest,\” reassuring the public that it does not pose a significant threat to public health. The WHO clarified, stating, \”Based on the available evidence, the additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently assessed as low.\”
Having previously been identified as a variant of interest within the parent lineage BA.2.86, JN.1 is now independently evaluated.
The WHO confirmed that existing vaccines remain effective in protecting against severe disease and death caused by JN.1 and other currently circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus.
According to recent reports from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the JN.1 subvariant comprises an estimated 15% to 29% of cases in the United States as of December 8, according to their latest projections. The CDC underscored that there is currently no evidence indicating an increased risk to public health from JN.1 compared to other circulating variants, and an updated vaccine could sustain protection against this variant.
Initially identified in the United States in September, JN.1 has been recently detected in seven infections in China, according to reports from last week.
