22 Cases of COVID-19 JN.1 Variant Detected in India as of Thursday

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Dec. Twenty-two cases of the JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19 have been detected in India as of Thursday, according to official sources. Out of these cases, 21 were reported in Goa and one in Kerala.

In Goa, there have been no clusters of the JN.1 variant, and all infected individuals have recovered without complications. The infected individuals experienced mild upper respiratory tract infections with symptoms such as a mild dry cough, sore throat, and fever.

In November, 62 samples were sent to different INSACOG labs for whole genome sequencing to detect the JN.1 variant. In December, 253 samples have been sent so far. A total of 22 cases of the JN.1 variant have been reported in the country as of December 21.

The first case of the JN.1 variant in India was detected in Kerala, in a 79-year-old woman who has since recovered without complications. NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul has emphasized the need for increased testing and surveillance systems in the country to monitor the new variant.

Officials have stated that despite the rising number of cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant, there is no immediate cause for concern as 92% of those infected are choosing home-based treatment, indicating mild illness. Hospitalization rates have not increased, and COVID-19 is often found incidentally in people hospitalized for other medical conditions.

The Union Health Secretary has advised states and union territories to implement public health measures to minimize the risk of transmission during the upcoming festive season. They have also been urged to monitor and report cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) for early detection of any increase in cases.

As of Friday, India has recorded 640 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of active cases to 2,997. The death toll stands at 5,33,328.

The JN.1 variant (BA.2.86.1.1) emerged in Luxembourg in August and is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS COV2. The countries reporting the largest proportion of JN.1 sequences are France, the USA, Singapore, Canada, the UK, and Sweden.