200 Israelis Infected with New COVID-19 Variant JN.1

The Hebrew newspaper Maariv has reported that approximately 200 Israelis have been infected with a new COVID-19 strain known as "JN.1," described as a highly contagious sub-variant.

Details of the New Variant Infection

According to Maariv's report on Monday, the Israeli Ministry of Health noted a slight increase in infection rates, with around 200 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant recorded in Israel.

Before the surge of infections in Israel, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning last month about the rapid spread of the sub-variant. The CDC cautioned that this could lead American hospitals to prepare for a potential influx of patients.

World Health Organization Comments on JN.1

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a 'variant of interest.' A group of experts convened by the WHO this month concluded that the changes in JN.1 are not significant enough to necessitate a revision of current vaccines.